In the second part of our series looking at the key influencers on transport policy Barry McCall profiles Owen Keegan, director of traffic with Dublin City Council, and Conor Faughnan, public affairs manager with the AA.
OWEN KEEGAN is the nearest thing we have to a "Traffic Tsar". A former economic consultant he has been around the block in the public service, previously as Dublin assistant city manager and with stints in the Departments of Finance and Environment, as well as a period with the ESRI.
Not always the motorist's favourite public official, Keegan has been a relentless promoter of public transport solutions for Dublin's chronic traffic problems. He firmly believes that people's behaviour must change if these problems are to be addressed.
And he's not afraid of enforcing that change. The introduction of clamping, changed flows to take traffic off O'Connell Street, are evidence of his willingness to take unpopular decisions.
On record as saying: "If you had a bus which picked somebody up in their bedroom, dressed them, fed them and dropped them at their desk in the office a lot of people would still look for excuses not to use the service. We need people to look at their own behaviour and change it."
He is seen as determined and resolute and not easily deflected from a course once set. For Dublin motorists, Keegan is arguably the most important and influential person around at the moment.
CONOR FAUGHNAN is probably the most recognisable name and voice on motoring-related subjects, with the possible exception of the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan. Faughnan has long been seen as the "motorist's advocate".
A member of the National Safety Council, his campaigning for fixed crash barriers on our burgeoning motorway network is seen by many as being instrumental in causing at least a partial change of heart on the issue on the part of the National Roads Authority. He is also seen as having a certain amount of influence in the Department of Transport with Seamus Brennan holding him in some regard.
There are some issues which even his considerable public profile and high level access haven't been able to influence. No fan of tolling, it appears that this battle has been lost and motorists will increasingly have to pay on Irish roads.However, he remains a formidable voice on behalf of motorists' interests and continues to be a highly influential figure in transport circles.