Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's privatisation strategy is in a shambles. Last night, in an effort to placate the concerns of drivers at the two companies, he said that no driver would have to transfer in the event of the route being lost to a private competitor. In effect, what he intends to do is place an additional burden on the balance sheet and books of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, making them less cost effective. This undermines the entire strategy his Government put forward in the first instance to privatise the routes. He is now going to create an additional cost base by retaining workers with the company. That makes no sense.

I am deeply concerned at what is happening. I listened to a SIPTU representative this morning say this was not a battle with the Government but with the employer. The fact of the matter is this is entirely at the feet and the hands of the Government. It is the strategy it has taken on to privatise the bus routes. The Minister must now look to 2019. If Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann go in carrying the cost of 10% extra staff, it will make them less efficient and put them in a far more difficult position to compete for routes then. The Minister should put his hands up and say his Government is about dismantling the public transport system and privatisation. He should at least be honest with the travelling public and the workers.

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