I agree that we need more checks on buses and it is probably a year since my ticket was checked. Some drivers are very good at pulling up fare evaders but this has in some cases resulted in them being told by bosses that they are acting outside their area of responsibility.

One point that nobody has made so far is the dubious temperment of SOME of the new breed of checkers. Some of them quite frankly have no manners at all and approach all passengers as though they are guilty until proved innocent. We used to have inspectors that would go about their business politely but efficiently and who could still deal with fare evaders firmly now we seem to get ones that see us all as criminals until we can prove that were not! OK they're not as bad as some of the yobs that Irish Rail employ as "security" staff but it doesn't hurt to be polite.