The other advantage of having staff on board is that it helps enormously on cutting down on anti-social behaviour which can ruin a journey and make people seek other modes of transport due to feeling unsafe. It can prevent low-level stuff like drinking and playing music escalating to violence as people get more drunk.
While there is a cost, this should be largely covered by a reduction in fare evasion and in the longer term by more passengers due to improved service. Once you are inside the area covered by station barriers, there is no excuse for not having a ticket.
However, all of the rights and wrongs are irrelevant. If the NTA contract states zero tolerance, then Irish Rail have no choice but to fine anybody not in possession of a valid ticket.
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