Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

As I stated, this was and is unofficial action. Discussions took place some time back at the Labour Relations Commission to resolve outstanding difficulties. A recommendation was made by the deputy director of conciliation. He issued a proposal to the parties. This proposal exhorted the drivers to restore full co-operation with training, changing of duties within turn and covering the absence of colleagues. This was unanimously accepted by the trade unions, NBRU and SIPTU, and their committees. Last Thursday, and not for the first time, several people decided they would not honour this and caused the current difficulties. Perhaps the Deputy is more aware than I am that this is not the first time this has happened. They went back before and came back out again.

In these circumstances it is not unreasonable to ask people to sign up to state they will not do it again and will let the Labour Relations Commission get on with its business and deal with the issue. I do not think it was designed to inflame the situation and nor should it. At that time, the drivers had indicated they were willing to come back, work and co-operate on everything else. All they were being asked to do was confirm it in writing and I do not think this was unreasonable.

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