Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to delay the meeting on that point and I have one final question. Having investigated whether he has made that application, could Mr. Hernan advise me of that and if he has made an application could he forward me a copy of the it?

Will Mr. Hernan accept it is reasonable for the unions and for the rural population not to engage in talks until the Minister deals with the wider subsidy issues as to why a much higher subsidy per head of population is paid for urban services as opposed to rural services? In other words, does Mr. Hernan not realise that the problems in Bus Éireann might relate to an inequitable policy that is archaic and favours urban areas per head of population, which one would think would be much easier to service and therefore the unions could be validly unwilling to talk until the Minister reviews his policy on transport services in this State? Would Mr. Hernan agree with that statement?