Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that nothing is afoot.

The central issue is the Expressway service and the losses accumulating there every year, despite the fact that the subvention has increased to €35 million this year, an increase of 17%. There was some preliminary engagement with the Labour Court yesterday, the focus of which was on procedural requirements relating to future discussions. The Minister is very anxious that management and unions sit down and negotiate on the central issue, which is the commercial loss-making end of the Expressway service. The NTA has a different role and responsibility here.

The Minister has pointed out that in the event of Expressway services being reconfigured, where it impacts on rural Ireland the NTA is available to provide connectivity to those rural areas. This will also be impacted on in part by the publication and implementation of the programme to deal with the potential of rural Ireland. It is a serious matter but central policy is that more people, customers, consumers and travelling people should use the public bus services. Improvements have been made during recent years including new frequencies, new routes and increased competitiveness. However, the central issue is commercial and I hope management and unions can continue to negotiate on it, if necessary through the mechanisms of the State and the Labour Court.

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