Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Courtney and acknowledge that his is a strong curriculum vitae. Anyone who has listened to his presentation would have to say that his background in CIE, his studies and his work experience through IBEC in both the private and public sector give him a huge range of experience, and I can only conclude that his appointment is absolutely based on merit. I am confident that Dublin Bus will benefit hugely from the experience he will bring to the position of chairperson.

Perhaps I can take Mr. Courtney back to this time last year, when Dublin Bus went on a three-day strike. The Government, ICTU and IBEC task force which was appointed was led by Mr. Courtney and Mr. Dowling. Will Mr. Courtney provide an outline of the work he did to achieve a breakthrough in the industrial relations impasse at the time, his role at that time and how he sees his role changing from that of task force leader to the position he has today as chairman of Dublin Bus?

How is the relationship with the Government and the unions? Was it enhanced by that process?