Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

We were told originally that this was about a €6 million loss at Expressway, but now the chief executive of Bus Éireann is talking about the need for €30 million in savings. Where does the €30 million figure come from? We know that under EU dictat by 2019, some 10% of Bus Éireann services must be opened up to competitive tender. Under this tender, all city services in Waterford will be included. Bus Éireann will be competing for those contracts against private operators, not the small fry but against big British companies. Their costs will be roughly equal except for the fact that Bus Éireann will have higher wage and pension costs. How can the Minister say this is not about a race to the bottom? How can he say this is not about driving down wages and conditions? How can he say it is about a €6 million deficit where the chief executive is looking for €30 million worth of savings clearly aimed at competing against private operators with a yellow-pack workforce on yellow-pack pay and conditions?

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