Mr. Martin Nolan:

If we are facing into a strike action this weekend, it is only proper I say something about it.

We are making every effort to avert this strike action and everybody gets around the table to discuss the issues left. We have 850,000 customer journeys over these strike days and Dublin Bus has more than that. We have made huge headway over the past number of years with 4 million additional passenger journeys last year. We are getting the companies back on the financial straight and narrow.

This weekend is one of our busiest of the year. Following detailed discussions with the Minister, the Department and the National Transport Authority, we gave a renewed commitment yesterday that no staff will have to transfer out of our company into another as part of the 10% tendering and that terms and conditions will be protected. There will be details around that which we need to get back to the Labour Relations Commission to discuss. The strike action will have dire financial consequences for our company and for Dublin Bus.

Once again, we need to get back around the table to discuss matters. I know there is much work in getting that to happen. If we go out on strike, public sympathy will disappear fairly quickly and we live on our reputation.