The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, yesterday tried out the new south Dublin Quality Bus Corridor, and was very impressed. The Minister, who had warned that she would make a surprise test over the coming weeks, boarded the 7.55 a.m. bus at Foxrock church, making her way to her office with a female friend.
No warning was given to Dublin Bus, and initially the driver did not appear to recognise the Minister, who holds sway over the entire public transport network.
And what was her verdict on the much-discussed QBC? "She was sipping coffee in Dawson Street at 8.20 a.m.," said a spokesman.
"She was very impressed with the service. It whizzed into town and passed all those people sitting in cars."
Ms O'Rourke's spokesman also said the Minister had "noticed business people on the bus, too, who looked as if they had been converted".
We don't know where the State car was left, or how many cups of coffee the Minister had before it made it into town.
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