'GO COMPETITION ROUTE ON BUSES' CALL - The ESRI has published its latest quarterly economic analysis on the country. The ESRI also published another report this morning on the bus transport market. It is highly critical of Government policy for not opening both Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann to more serious competition.
Its author, Patrick Massey of consultants Compecon, said successive transport ministers had been promising changes in the bus market for more than 20 years, but there appeared to be a reluctance to move.
He said Transport Minister Martin Cullen's announcement of changes last year, although opening up some new routes, would leave Dublin Bus's existing routes intact.
Mr Massey claimed Dublin Bus was inefficient. He said it was paid a large subsidy, but we did not know which routes were loss-making and which routes were justified on social policy grounds.
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OECD CRITICAL OF ANTI-BRIBERY ACTION - The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has written a scathing report on Ireland's commitment to tackling bribery by Irish companies seeking contracts in developing countries.
It said a visit by its officials to Ireland in October was characterised by very low attendance from key Government bodies and also private sector representatives. The OECD is calling on the Government to amend its laws.
The Department of Justice says it is working hard in the area. It says there is approval for the drafting of a Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill to broaden the existing legislation to cover the OECD's concerns, and a committee is to be set up to monitor compliance with the Anti Bribery-Convention.
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CURRENCIES - The euro is worth $1.3340 and 67.96p sterling.
