Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams has called for a debate. I understand that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, is before the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport today and will, I am sure, answer questions from all Deputies on the matter.

Reference was made to investment in Bus Éireann. I stated earlier that it is because of the Government's recognition of the importance of public transport that it has invested over €200 million in public services in recent years. In the absence of that investment, these public services would not be available.

Reference was made to the resolution of this problem. As the Minister, Deputy Ross, has said on several occasions – the Government supports him fully in this regard – the mechanism by which these issues must be resolved, ultimately, is through the industrial relations machinery of the State. I outlined earlier, in answer to similar questions from Deputy Martin, that the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court handle thousands of these issues for the country year after year. In order to ensure their continued role in matters of deep importance, it is crucial that the Government supports them.

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