Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's reply is incredibly contradictory. His statement that he has intervened to secure increased funding for socially necessary transport and free travel and that he is reviewing the commercial bus licensing system indicates that he knows he has a key role in the future of our public transport system. The workers and management negotiating need to know these facts. The Minister is the only person who can give them that information. He has a cheek to talk about productivity. Since 2009-2010, when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael set up the current system of bus licensing which got us into the situation we are in today, there have been massive increases in productivity by bus workers in Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail despite savage cuts in pay and staff numbers. These workers have been the lifeblood of the public transport system. The Minister has been extremely disrespectful to them this evening.

See this speech in context