Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Dublin Bus workers on their steadfastness and determination to vindicate their rights. I also commend them on their instrumental contribution in returning the company to profit. I hope the unions and the workers show the same solidarity with, and backing for, Bus Éireann Expressway drivers who seem to be heading in the same direction. This is our national bus service. Dublin Bus workers had to stand on the picket line not knowing how long the strike would last. I tabled a parliamentary question recently about the fees paid by the NTA for consultancy services. The figures are shocking when one considers that workers had to go out on strike for basic salaries. The NTA spent more than €14 million on consultancy services over the past five years. In 2015, it engaged 16 consultants. I do not know whether those are consultancy firms or individual consultants. It begs the question: is there no expertise within the authority? Why was it set up if it has to spend so much of taxpayer's money on consultancy services and travel advisory services? The most shocking figure related to last year. The authority spent €4.347 million on these 16 consultants, each of which received more than €279,000, yet Dublin Bus workers were forced to go out on a picket line.

SIPTU mentioned the Government's smarter travel initiative and highlighted that, under action 12, the PSO subvention would be linked to growth in patronage. Why has this not happened? Action 14 stated a seven-days-a-week transport service would be provided for rural communities and those in smaller urban towns. Why has the NTA failed to deliver on that?

The NBRU said that other transport workers would not stand idly by when the pay issue comes up down the road for Bus Éireann workers. Will Mr. O'Leary explain what he means by this? Will he outline how that would play out practically, given that workers would be in dispute with their employer? Would they experience the same solidarity, backing and determination? Could he elaborate on the legislative changes he said were flagged up and inserted in the LRC settlement last year? Bus Éireann has vacated 200 towns and villages. I mentioned earlier that this is bad enough because of the lack of subvention and cutbacks workers have had to endure. I say to people if they think it is bad now, they should wait until privatisation kicks in when rural areas will not just be vacated but completely abandoned for profit only. Mr. O'Leary was also critical of the NTA and its budget. I hope he will be equally critical of the consultancy fees and the lack of expertise in the authority. He also said the NTA is empire building and sees itself is a replica of Transport for London. Could he also elaborate on that? He said the French state is paid by the Irish taxpayer and he referred to the issue around Transdev. I would like him to comment further on that. He mentioned European rail companies tendering for state contracts in other jurisdictions. What does that mean for us?