Unions angry but businesses greet proposals

Unions at the State-owned transport companies have reacted angrily to Mr Brennan's proposals to radically reform public transport services. The proposals were however welcomed by business interests and private bus operators.

The National Bus and Railworkers Union said it might withdraw from the Government's public transport partnership forum and it predicted industrial unrest throughout CIE. The union also accused the Minister of seeking privatisation of the State-owned companies.

Union spokesman Mr Liam Tobin said Dublin Bus was "operating in the black and is one of the most efficient transport companies in Europe". He insisted that the public was "99 per cent" happy with the operation of the company which he claimed had been denied licences to expand its services.

Both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann were actively seeking new routes and there was no logical reason to tinker with their success, he argued.

Mr Liam Berney of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions called on Mr Brennan to step back from his proposals and to re-engage with the social partners.

The national industrial secretary of SIPTU, Mr Noel Dowling, said the issue would be raised at the national partnership talks which are currently under way.

However, the Dublin Transportation Office, which reports to the Minister, has welcomed the proposals as fitting in with long-term strategy for the city. It also revealed yesterday it was engaged in a year-long study to restrict the growth in demand for car travel and to encourage people to use public transport.

Approval has also come from the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland of Ireland as well as Aircoach which operates buses between Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport.

Mr John O'Sullivan of Aircoach said Mr Brennan's decision to put in place a modern independent regulatory structure would help to persuade the public to leave their cars in favour of professionally run, quality-managed alternatives.

The chief executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, Mr John Dunne, said the reforms were "a significant step in the right directio. . . we see it as the first phase in a series of reforms that are needed".

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce also welcomed competition in Dublin bus market as set out by Mr Brennan, but it warned that the proposals would only work if there was an independent regulator in place

"Given the sense of urgency among commuters, we call on Minister Brennan to move rapidly to establish the regulator's office, as part of the proposed Greater Dublin Land Use and Transport Planning authority," said Mr Declan Martin, Dublin Chamber's director of policy. Dublin Chamber also said it favoured a route franchising system rather than a "free-for-all".