40 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has assessed the consequences of a recent High Court decision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29730/01]

A settlement was reached on 24 October 2001 in the High Court case taken by Nestor Bus Limited against CIE, Bus Éireann, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ireland and the Attorney General. Under the terms of the settlement, the case against CIE and Bus Éireann was dismissed and costs awarded against the plaintiff. The case against the State was struck out with an order for the plaintiff's costs to be recovered from the State.

The issues arising from the recent High Court case are being taken into consideration in the regulatory reform programme which my Department has already embarked on. The main conclusion arising from the case is that it confirms the Road Transport Act, 1932, is out of date and must be replaced with a modern regulatory framework which will meet the needs of the travelling public. The issue of revising the Department's policy guidelines on bus licensing is also being urgently examined in the light of this case.