Gino Kenny urges free public transport to curb car culture
Gino Kenny spoke in favour of a motion calling for free, accessible and high-quality public transport, arguing that evidence shows people will use it. He linked free transport to environmental benefits and criticised privatisation of bus services in Dublin for service failures.
Support for free public transport
Gino Kenny welcomed the motion and described free public transport as a valid argument for accessibility and quality. He said that where free systems are available people will use them and recalled being impressed by European networks, noting even ex-communist countries had strong services.
Environmental argument
He argued that car culture, sustained by capitalism, dominates roads such as the M50 and is not sustainable for the environment. Kenny said providing a clear alternative to cars would reduce vehicle use and benefit emissions and congestion.
Critique of privatisation
Kenny called privatisation "a pretty unmitigating disaster" and gave examples of private bus services in Dublin failing to turn up for two or three hours. He described the practical impact on commuters, including paying 25 euros for a taxi when buses do not arrive.
Policy implications and connectivity
He urged that services damaged by privatisation should be returned to public hands to improve connectivity and accessibility. Kenny emphasised that public, free and accessible buses and trains would encourage use and lead to fewer cars on the road.
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Minister, I'd like to welcome this very, very important motion in relation to free transport. I think it's a very, very valid argument in relation to public transport that is free, accessible and of top quality. And all the evidence points that where you have this system, people will use it. I always remember going to Europe for the very first time and being amazed by the system of public transport. It was the thing that kind of stood out most to me. when I went to parts of Europe, the accessibility, it was relatively cheap. And it even got better when you went more east, went to the ex-communist countries. I know they had all their faults, but their transport was pretty unbelievable for countries like that. So there's a lot of valid reasons why we should have free public transport. I think one of the main reasons around environmental issues, I mean, capitalism has relied on the car culture. And you only have to look at the M50 anywhere that we look in Ireland, where there's a complete dominance of cars. That's not sustainable in relation to the environment. And as I said, if you build and give people an option, an alternative to cars, people will use it. And as I said, all the evidence points that way. Just in relation to the privatisation of certain services in Dublin, I mean, privatisation has been a pretty unmitigating disaster. I mean, go ahead, a company that runs certain services in Dublin Midwest, I mean, bus has not even shown up for two or three hours. So you can imagine how frustrating you are. If you're waiting for a bus to go to work, and the bus never comes, you have to pay 25 euros for a taxi to get to work. And then when you come back from work, the bus is not there. So these services need to be taken back into public hands. So I think connectivity and accessibility and accessibility and kind of that model is extremely important. And look at it throughout Europe, where they've actually put this model in around free transport, where essentially if you get a bus, a train, any kind of public vehicle is free, obviously, except taxis and so forth. But where people, where this is accessible, people will use. And once people use that, there will be less cars on the road. And that's only a very, very good thing. Thank you.
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