Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I received a phone call from an Expressway driver. He also sent an e-mail saying that he works a six-week roster with one weekend off in six. He has a lot of days on which he is away from home for 11 or 12 hours. For two of the six weeks, he starts at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. He earns an average of €700 per week. Bus Éireann proposes to cut that by removing the shift allowance of €95 and reducing the double-time rate for Sundays from 100% to 20%. The company is also seeking a general reduction of 10% in allowances. The driver said it appears that he will bring home in the region of €500 a week when these cuts are put in place on 20 February. As stated, the man, who is from Clonmel, is an Expressway driver. He will be eligible for income supplement if these cuts are imposed by Bus Éireann. The Minister has a responsibility. I was sitting in my office this evening and I heard him say that the Government is intent on looking after rural Ireland. The bucks stops with the Minister. He must ensure that Expressway is preserved and that people in rural Ireland get the transport infrastructure they deserve.

I have been sitting in this Chamber for the past 90 minutes and have listened to many Opposition Members criticising the motion moved by Deputy Troy. This shows that Fianna Fáil is on the right track. We are putting forward the correct policies forward in respect of both urban and rural Ireland. I wholeheartedly support the motion.

See this speech in context