Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Once again, we are at a stage where there seems to be no solution in sight to the dispute in Bus Éireann. I have been consistent in my views that the Minister must, at the very least, be involved in some fashion in finding a resolution. It is not enough for the Minister to state he cannot get involved and that he has no role in finding a resolution. Over the past week, thousands of people have been affected by this dispute with many unable to find suitable alternative travel arrangements. Commuters in Dundalk and Drogheda were badly affected particularly those who needed transport to Dublin Airport. I ask the Minister to immediately intervene in this dispute and facilitate talks between both sides. It will be too late to get involved if there is a situation where Bus Éireann ceases to operate.

In the Minister's opening submission, he stated he wants a successful and thriving Bus Éireann that will continue to be at the heart of public transport provision in rural areas and regional cities. He has also stated he is actively working on achieving this. Will he elaborate on this and explain in more detail the actions he is working on?

On the free travel scheme, the Minister stated his Department is working with his colleagues in the Department of Social Protection on examining the funding of the scheme. What stage are these negotiations at and when can we expect their outcome? What are the expectations of the negotiations?

In the Minister's opening statement, he called on both sides in the dispute to show imagination to find a resolution. Will he expand on this and give the committee an idea of what he means by this? Does he have any suggestions in this regard? The Minister also stated that his Department has identified amendments that could be made to improve the current bus licensing system. Can he give the committee a timeline of when we can review these amendments? The Minister stated he is prepared to meet the relevant parties, including the trade unions, to discuss public transport policy issues but he cannot meet them during an industrial relations dispute or when a strike is threatened. I disagree with the Minister. It is the right time to sit down with the relevant parties. Surely it is an opportunity to have both parties sit down and take part in talks that will shape public transport policies and address some of the issues that exist between Bus Éireann and the unions.