Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to start off firstly by voicing my support on the public record for the bus workers and their strike action from 20 February. I recognise that they have been singularly targeted in this dispute and that they were not the ones who created the crisis. This crisis was created through bad policy and mismanagement. We are five days away from what can best be described as the chaos which will ensue across the State, affecting workers, commuters, students and hospital patients. In light of that, I wish to reiterate the call to the Minister and the acting CEO of Bus Éireann to set aside the letter that was sent out on 16 January, particularly the inflammatory contents, in order to allow for negotiations.

I wish to ask the various unions some questions. What expectations do SIPTU and Unite have for the WRC talks this evening? It was said earlier that a combination of issues needs to be addressed in order to resolve this matter in the long term and to protect our public transport service and infrastructure. Would the unions agree that these issues include the need for an increased subvention, an increase in the Department of Social Protection's travel pass subsidy, and a review of licences issued on certain routes? Would the unions also agree that, on top of all that, there is a responsibility to examine inefficiencies across the board? Examples were cited of three buses leaving at the same time on one route. That problem was created with licences, as there is one public bus and two private operators. There are nonsensical inefficiencies such as those that have directly resulted in the financial loss. There are inefficiencies everywhere, including in Bus Éireann, every company, every board and in the Government. Do the unions acknowledge that such inefficiencies exist and would they be prepared to examine them in conjunction with all the rest to ensure we secure and enhance our public transport network?

What is the NBRU's view on the role the Department has played in this dispute up until now? On the NTA, National Transport Authority, and the issuing of licences, we know there are several routes which we can identify which have directly contributed to the financial crisis in the company. From the point of view that the NTA has rejected more than it has accepted, what are the unions' opinions on that?

We have not got a straight answer from the Minister, the Department or the NTA but we know they have identified routes for targeting. They have not been open or transparent in disclosing those routes. There is a real fear right across rural communities about these routes and the interconnectivity between cities and urban towns. Private operators only go from city to city or large town to large town.