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by Jessie Magee
CONCERNS have been raised that planned EU
legislation giving bus passengers the same right to
compensation as those travelling by air and rail
could force small Irish coach operators out of
business.
The European Parliament backed measures this week
which would allow bus passengers claim up to €1,800
for lost luggage, or be awarded hefty compensation
in the event of journeys being cancelled or delayed
by over two hours.
However not all MEPs in Strasbourg voted in favour
of the rules, with some Irish representatives
claiming it could prove devastating for small bus
companies.
North West MEP Jim Higgins said the draft law
discriminates in favour of larger coach operators in
urban areas.
“The level of compensation being proposed is
basically on a par with what would be offered by
Lufthansa or large ferry operators; there is no
comparison with small operations that are often run
by one person and provide an invaluable service,
particularly for older people in isolated or rural
areas,” he said.
Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward agreed that small bus
companies would not be able to survive the burden of
compensation owed to passengers if, for example, a
bus gets stuck behind a slow tractor. “The
legislation would also mean that staff would have to
be retrained to assist disabled passengers - a cost
that would have to be passed on to passengers,” he
warned. The regulations are due to come into force
in 2012, however it has still not been finally
approved by all the EU institutions.
(Eurolink) |
