Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred to access to the best quality services, but he does not say that he supports the principle of a publicly-owned transport company such as Bus Éireann. Does he believe in the principle of having a public transport company? That is an important policy principle he might clarify.

There is a real doubt and suspicion with regard to the Minister's inputs. There has been a clean out of the former management. Four or five weeks ago we were told that Expressway was the real issue but, subsequently, it has become the entire company. With the use of terms such as "insolvency" matters have ratcheted up, culminating in the premature move to the Labour Court yesterday by the management side. That move backfired. It appears that something is afoot. People such as the Minister and others are saying their fingerprints are on nothing and they are not involved, yet everybody thinks their fingerprints are well and truly on a policy that is being pursued to a degree by stealth. A little more transparency from all would be welcome. The convening of all-round talks on the policy issues and roots would go a long way towards beginning on a pathway to resolving this issue.

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