Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Going back less than ten years, the Croke Park agreement would be more satisfactory than what is being asked of the workers in this document. The cuts have been covered, but I am at a loss because one part of the document states what is in the retirement pension and another part of the document states the pension issue must be addressed by the overall CIE group. I want clarification on this point.

Mention has been made of sorting out the workers' jobs but has management investigated its own operations at the top, with regard to the fleet itself and the operation of the fleet? We all appreciate fair competition and private operators being in the game, but are they able to operate on a level playing pitch with regard to buses? Bus Éireann buses must be up to standard with regard to wheelchair access whereas some private operators do not have these facilities.

Bus Éireann is spending money on buying new school buses when the buses they have replaced could have lasted for another ten years. Some of the buses are in use by private operators providing school services. We are here today because of the loss of routes and the potential reduction in services. I will give an example of what is proposed in Cork, and other members have mentioned their counties.