Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My questions are relatively straightforward. The Minister states discussions, whatever form they take, cannot take place during an industrial relations dispute or when a strike is being threatened. Why on earth not? It is only within the gift of the Minister to change the conditions on many of the issues surrounding the subsidy, pay and all the rest. The capacity of Bus Éireann to negotiate with the workers is being restricted by the Minister's failure to get involved in negotiations. It is he Minister and the Government that have the ability to deliver a great deal of what can resolve this dispute to the satisfaction of Bus Éireann drivers and the public. As such, the Minister should absolutely get involved in a strategically important part of the public transport infrastructure which has huge community value. Apart from the official public service obligation routes, does the Minister accept that all Expressway services to a degree involve the serving of a public good in the many towns along the routes where private operators do not have to carry passengers? Does the Minister accept that there is a public service value in the Expressway routes?