Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the talks, but I caution that the bus workers in Bus Éireann who went into talks settled with a big stick over their heads. They understood that if they did not accept the settlement the Minister would have made the company insolvent. The Minister should not allow that happen again, because the workers in Bus Éireann are suffering under the threat of insolvency. Their working lives have been ruined by the sort of rotas they are expected to work. They are now working in a very difficult, demoralised workplace. The company is riding roughshod over them. The Minister should not let that happen in this instance, and should not use the threat of insolvency against Irish Rail workers. Passenger numbers and revenue are at an all time high in Irish Rail. This is due to the productivity of and the cuts endured by the workers. The Taoiseach is talking through his hat when he says that there is a choice either to improve the service or pay the workers. If the workers are not paid the service will disimprove, as has been seen in the case of the health service.

The CEO, who is earning an all-time high, thinks he can push all of the responsibility for the company's woes onto the workers. If we were to subvent Irish Rail even at the European average we would be doing very well indeed. It would keep this company alive and improve rail travel. That would help reduce our carbon emissions. Freight carried on railway increases the likelihood of reducing emissions by 80%, compared to trucks on roads.

I ask the Minister not to choose the easy way out. He should stay here and look after the industrial issues in transport rather than trying to save the world. The easy choice is to try and save the world. It is harder to stay here and try and sort out public transport.

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