Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator MacSharry raised the issue of Bus Éireann which is in a very difficult situation. It has accumulated losses of €27 million in the past five years, a position, the House will agree, which is unsustainable and which places the viability of the company at risk. According to the Labour Court and the trade unions' independent financial assessors, Bus Éireann is in a very precarious financial situation and its viability is under threat. According to the Labour Court, significant reductions in the company's cost base, including payroll costs, are essential to ensuring its future and to protect employment within the company. The issues involved have been subject to deliberations for 11 months and the Labour Court has also adjudicated. Following this adjudication there was further engagement with the Labour Relations Commission. The future of the company must be secured for the public which depends on its services and for the benefit of its employees.

Bus Éireann also runs commercial Expressway services which are currently loss making. Legally, the State cannot support these services. Their viability can only be secured if these savings are achieved.

Bus Éireann has confirmed to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, that the company remains open to engaging with the unions. It would be the wish of everybody that the management and unions use the short period available up to 12 May to engage in further dialogue to ensure the necessary savings are introduced and the provision of bus services for the public is protected. Hopefully the management and unions can sit down and reach some agreement. It would be regrettable to have a disruption of services as mentioned by Senator MacSharry.

A number of Senators mentioned early preschool child care and called for the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to come to the House today. It would not be practicable for him to come here today because of his workload, but I will certainly invite the Minister, Deputy Quinn, as requested by many Senators. He has indicated that he would like a debate on the subject. Senator Keane mentioned that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, came to the House only about seven weeks ago to debate the same subject. I will certainly invite the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to discuss the situation also. Hopefully we can have him here in early course to debate that matter.

Senator Bacik called for a debate on the penal reform report and the joined-up thinking between the Probation Service and the Prison Service. I will invite the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the House to discuss that very important penal reform report that has been published.

Senator Barrett also spoke about the high cost of child care. He also outlined the success of the Kerry Group whose privatisation was ahead of its time in that regard. He also mentioned the involvement of the former Minister, Mark Clinton, in that company.

Senators Bradford, Quinn and others called for a debate on the economy. Senator Bradford pointed out that we spend over €1 billion a month more than we are taking in. Unfortunately that is the sad state of the economy and it needs to be addressed. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, has given a commitment to come to the House - I know this will not please people - in early July for an overall debate on the economy and banking. It will be well in advance of the budget. I know it will take longer than people would have expected to have that debate, but the Minister has given a commitment to be here early in July for such a debate.

Senator O'Donovan spoke about deferring today's proposed motion establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management. I understand that motion must be passed today. When a national parliament receives a subsidiarity note from the Commission, it has eight weeks to submit a reasoned opinion. Ireland's opinion must be returned by 13 May. By submitting a reasoned opinion along with other member states we are having our say in the matter in informing the Commission that it should not have a role in this matter and it is more appropriately addressed by the member state itself. I cannot accept Senator O'Donovan's amendment to the Order of Business - if it was an amendment - in that regard. However, I will endeavour to have a debate on the subject as the Senator requested.