Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The most successful way of settling any dispute is through mediation and discussion, and this is precisely what has been ongoing for a long time. Talks aimed at averting a planned three-hour strike by train drivers tomorrow will resume later. These talks have been undertaken under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. It is very important we settle the dispute. In all the material put forward by both sides, there are grounds for reaching an agreement. The dispute centres on claims by train drivers for payment for past productivity measures such as taking on new safety responsibilities and operating new services. Iarnród Éireann has said it is willing to share the benefits arising from future productivity measures the drivers undertake. This is the kernel of how, with the assistance of very experienced industrial relations negotiators, we can reach the desired outcome I assume everybody in the House, including the Deputy, would wish for, that we would not have a rail strike on a bank holiday weekend.

The biggest losers would be rail services, commuters and people travelling for the bank holiday weekend who would have to find alternative forms of transport. Given that this is a major revenue earning weekend for Iarnród Éireann, I appeal to both parties in the dispute to continue talking so as to arrive at an agreed settlement where there is the possibility, in terms of what is on the table, to reach an agreement.

It would be particularly helpful to those travelling over the weekend and to regular commuters on their morning commute in and out of work, especially in urban areas, if the dispute could be settled by negotiation. During the recent budget announcements, Deputies will have noted that the Department of Social Protection's contribution to public transport has increased from €77 million to €80 million. This increase will underpin the services provided by the Department, especially to people over the age of 66 through the free travel scheme. We have been issuing new free travel cards, together with identifiable photographs, to pensioners. As a daughter of a railway family - my father and grandfather worked on the railways - I assure the House that like the Department of Social Protection as a whole, I am committed to seeing every effort made to settle this dispute in the interests of the travelling public and of train drivers, who have an important job because they take on the safety of hundreds of passengers over each journey. I am committed to seeing this dispute resolved in a way that secures the future of Irish Rail and allows the company, which is very important right throughout the country, to go forward and make progress.

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