Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will try to get through it as quickly as possible. For someone who said he was not going to address the subject of the dispute, Deputy Barry did pretty well. He spoke about it for four minutes. I will try to restrict myself. Along with Deputy Barry, I compliment those bus drivers and other members of staff in all stations and jobs who suffered during the strike. I compliment them on coming to a very hard decision. That should be acknowledged. They made a very difficult choice and I join with Deputy Barry in saying "well done" and thanking them for putting the Bus Éireann buses back on the road and facilitating the travelling public and taxpayer.

Deputy Barry can watch with interest the funding for PSO. It is certainly my intention that it will be raised this year and Deputy Barry can come back to me if he is still there and I am still here in December or November and tell me whether I did or did not deliver on what I said was going to happen.

In respect of free travel, we have agreed in principle that funding for all commercial operations will be the same. That is a fundamental change that is an agreement in principle. There are few loose ends to be tied up. It might not be announced in the budget. It might be announced beforehand. I must talk to the Minister for Social Protection about when the details will be announced but they will be announced fairly soon. They will be implemented in the budget.

In respect of the dialogue with shareholders, I will meet the unions. I want to meet the unions-----