The decision to abolish the ministerial fleet and dispense with Garda drivers has led to unforeseen consequences for Ministers: they can’t use the bus lanes any more.
The old State cars and their drivers came under the remit of the Department of Justice. Now ministers use their private cars and civilian drivers, reducing the cost of ministerial transport. But the time lost in traffic jams is driving them mad.
This has become a hot topic among Cabinet members, who don’t want to go public with their misgivings as they know the sort of reaction they would get. “Welcome to the real world, pal.” But, privately, they point to their packed appointment diaries and say it’s impossible to keep up with their commitments without using the bus lanes.
Top-level inquiries have been made to see if the situation can be changed. If the Cabinet decides to act on the matter, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar (lpictured) would be responsible for restoring life in the fast lane to his grateful colleagues.
The department’s official line is: “Ministers have been able to use bus lanes on Government business since bus lanes were invented. The Government has no plans to change the status quo. Because Ministers now use their own cars instead of Garda vehicles, the Government would have to sign a statutory instrument to facilitate the matter. This would be a decision for the whole Government, and no such decision has yet been taken.”
The important word there is “yet”.
They could always adopt the Michael O’Leary approach and put a taxi plate on all relevant cars.
Leo has beenputting his medical training to good use. Last weekend he opened a bike track in Ticknock, in the Dublin mountains. One of the cyclists took a tumble, and the Minister was on hand to administer some first aid before he was taken to hospital.
