Mr. Dermot O'Leary:

I will be clear on one thing, about which the unions are ad idem. The Deputy is talking about a briefing of 16 January that did not come through the trade unions but went directly to staff. It was designed to provoke our members into a reaction and to hitting the picket lines. They wanted to push us into an industrial dispute so that they could accuse us of hitting the barricades because overtime had been cut. We did not succumb to this nakedly aggressive act by the company. Our members toed the line, though this was very difficult. A total of 80 services were cancelled, mainly at the Broadstone depot, as a result of the letter of 16 January meaning that some 2,000 people were left without a service. That is what Mr. Hernan, his management team and his paymasters think of the people who rely on those services. It was designed to provoke people and, as Mr. Ennis said, when we go to the WRC this afternoon, this is one of the issues that will loom large. Provoking staff into a reaction and losing 80 services is no way to run a transport system. It is appalling.

The company said the briefing of 16 January was covered by current agreements.

I would dispute that and I would also dispute many of the interventions they have made since.