Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman very much. I respectfully ask the Minister to intervene in whatever way he can, to get involved or to mediate between the unions and management for the simple reason that the Minister is responsible for public transport in the State. Whatever happens we must have public transport for the people who do not have cars or those who are not able to transport themselves. We are already seeing that school transport is affected. The bus driver who does the passenger run also does school transport, and he or she is not doing that either, so in many places the school transport facility is already being hit. We remember what happened when Bertie Ahern got involved in disputes. He wore them out all night, and he stayed there the next day and the day after. I have every faith in the Minister, Deputy Ross, that he could do this. One bus driver showed me his payslip today. It showed €626 as his net pay. Surely he cannot be asked to take a 30% cut. I ask the Minister to intervene and to mediate because he is responsible for the fallout. We still need public transport. The Minister is responsible for it. I respectfully ask the Minister to get involved and not to blame me for asking. Everybody out there is asking for him to do just that.