Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach informed the House that the committee on infrastructure, which I take it deals with transport, had met once. What date did the committee meet? Did the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, attend the meeting? Did he give any heads-up to the committee on the information he gave to Cabinet yesterday to the effect that Bus Éireann, one of our most important commercial semi-State companies, could be insolvent within two years and that up to eight routes could be axed with projected losses of €6 million this year? Surely this cannot have come out of the blue yesterday as there was a claim before the Labour Court, of which the Minister was aware and on which he must have given some sort of heads-up to the Cabinet sub-committee and the Government.

Some months ago the Minister told the national airwaves that managing the transport sector had been a doddle since taking office. Since that statement we have had various disputes, including at the Luas and at Dublin Bus, upsetting tens of thousands of passengers and commuters, and now there are projections that one of the most important transport companies in public ownership is facing insolvency. Did the Minister give a heads-up on these matters and when was he made aware of the perilous situation on which he briefed Cabinet yesterday?

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