Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Prior to the inflammatory ultimatum sent out by the CEO of Bus Éireann to the workers, I repeatedly called on the Minister to engage with all the stakeholders, to sit around the table and find a resolution to this and he repeatedly refused. I asked the Minister to meet with all the stakeholders - the Department, the NTA, Bus Éireann and the unions - and he repeatedly refused. The letter that went out was deliberate, targeted and provocative. The Minister is asking the workers to accept up to a 30% cut in their average pay and for their current contracts to be changed completely. We all know the workers did not create this crisis. The most annoying and frustrating thing of all is that not once did either the Government or the NTA ever admit the real reason for this crisis. That was bad policy, poor decision making and gross underfunding. The Minister cannot be taken with any degree of seriousness until he publicly admits that was the cause of this crisis. I am asking the Minister, because he knows the chaos that lies ahead, to not play with words. We all know there were preconditions. I read out the letter to the Minister that was sent from the CEO to the workers.

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