Dublin's city manager has admitted the introduction of a rush hour bus gate in the city has caused a 'perception issue' for motorists.
But John Tierney said the early opening of the Samuel Beckett Bridge in December would help to address that.
City retailers are claiming that the bus gate has damaged business and that jobs may be lost as a result.
A petition calling for the measure to be reconsidered, which was signed by 174 Brown Thomas employees, was circulated at yesterday's monthly meeting of the council.
The employees, who are members of the Mandate trade union, said they feared losing their jobs.
Mr Tierney said the bus priority scheme does not prevent access to one single car park but conceded that there is a perception issue.
He also said the council, together with the Dublin City Centre Business Association, were planning an information campaign to assure people that the city remains open.
