Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In future we will try to arrange the meetings of the committee to suit Deputy Troy so that he can shout and roar down there as well as up here. The Deputy knows well of the seriousness of the situation Bus Éireann and its Expressway services face. He knows this because I have commented on it numerous times on the floor of this House and in committee. For the Deputy to affect surprise or outrage at what I say is disingenuous at best.

Since assuming office, I have been briefed repeatedly by my Department officials on the issues faced by Bus Éireann, including the issue of the pay claim lodged by trade unions. I have met the chair of the company twice in recent months, including this week, at which meeting the stark challenges facing the company were again underlined to me. Given this week's Labour Court appearance, I thought it timely to brief my Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday morning on the issues that were likely to feature as part of public commentary. There was no particular significance as regards the timing other than that I thought it an appropriate point at which to update colleagues.

We all recognise that the company faces challenges. Yesterday evening the Labour Court also recognised those challenges when it decided it cannot issue a recommendation while the company finalises its options to address the losses it faces as a result of its Expressway services.

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