Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for his or her contribution. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe is right: if it was not for Fianna Fáil's Private Members' motion, we would not be discussing the issue. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, has been particularly mute on it. If nothing else, the motion gave an opportunity to those with an interest in public transport to come and make a contribution. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe is right. It is amazing that no one from the Government parties, with the exception of the Minister and the Minister of State, chose to come and speak about the issue.

The Minister acknowledged the positive contribution which had been made by Seán Lemass. He was a great Taoiseach who set up the industrial relations mechanisms, in which we are not asking the Minister to get involved. We are asking him to become involved before there is an industrial relations dispute and an all-out strike. He said he was willing to talk, that the unions, management and the NTA were willing to talk and that, according to him, the NTA would not be found wanting. Therefore, why not come together to see if an agreement can be ironed out? If not, let us use the mechanisms of the Workplace Relations Commission, but let us come together first. I do not subscribe to what those sitting to my right but who are on the far left said. They want an all-out strike. They want to see a situation where those who rely on public services would be discommoded and the workers have their wages reduced. Paragraph 8.2 of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies requires a Minister to become involved before major changes are envisaged. As major changes to Bus Éireann are envisaged, the Minister is required to become involved. His predecessor did not get involved. He was warned about the financial position and challenges facing Bus Éireann more than 12 months ago but nothing was done. Now we have the calamitous situation where workers' rights have to be cut without looking at other efficiencies that could be achieved.

I beg the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence. The Minister said the NTA would not be found wanting. He also said he had informed and briefed himself on how the NTA did its work. How long does it take it to adjudicate on a licence application? How long does it take it to state a service will be introduced?

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