James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the fact that the Minister cannot or will not get involved is cold comfort to the commuters literally left waiting in the rain at the side of the road. In respect of the figures the Minister mentioned relating to Bus Éireann, I met its chief executive this week and also discussed this with him. He was available to have the conversation, for which I credit him. Out of some 300-odd services, only seven were affected. Unfortunately, those seven services involved the same bus every day for a week, so the people who were trying to get to work at 7 a.m. and who were at the side of the road in Kilcock, Clane or Prosperous had the same experience every day.

In addition to service disruptions, we are effectively going backwards. The rail network had progressed to an extent where it was becoming competitive and attractive as a mode of transport in terms of price, comfort and convenience. Improvements such as the Phoenix Park tunnel, which are welcome and needed, are now being hindered by the fact one cannot use the services because the rolling stock is inadequate. New timetable improvements to introduce off-peak services and additional carriages are being curtailed. I do not think this is part of the official industrial action. It is probably a knock-on effect of poor relations in the management structures and the unions. It is not part of the official action but has been allowed to continue unchecked for several months. Surely, the Minister could direct on that point alone. There are issues such as the ten-minute DART and additional Phoenix Park services, which do not fall within the parameters of the current dispute, yet are being hindered for the same reason.

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