Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
241. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13584/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile there are no single-function, quasi-judicial bodies under the remit of my Department as Minister for Transport, certain bodies under my remit have a statutory role for hearing appeals/hearing of complaints functions.
For example, the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR), as regulatory body of the rail market, has a function to hear appeals under regulation 30 of European Union (Regulation of Railways) Regulations 2015-2020, from an applicant who believes they have been unfairly treated, discriminated against, or is in any other way aggrieved by a decision of the Essential Function Body, the infrastructure manager or, where appropriate, the railway undertaking or the operator of a service facility.
Under regulation 31, the CRR, as regulatory body, can decide complaints lodged by any railway undertaking or interested party if that railway undertaking, or interested party, believes that it has been treated unjustly, or treated in a non-equitable or discriminatory manner with regard to access or any other matters relevant to these Regulations. The CRR also has a function to hear an appeal from its own decision under the national transposition of the EU Cableways Regulations.
Equally, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has a statutory function under the national transpositions of the EU Passenger Rights regulations (rail, bus or sea passengers) under certain circumstances to handle complaints, including complaints (disputes) where the passenger is not satisfied with the manner in which the transport service provider dealt with their complaint in the first instance.
Noting the relevance of this question to the agencies of my Department, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for a more detailed reply. Please advise my Private Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
