Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to the Bus Éireann strike. I welcome the fact that talks have resumed at the Workplace Relations Commission between Bus Éireann workers and management in the past hour or two. I wish them well.There are many workers out and they have young families and are under severe financial pressure. Bus Éireann is a huge and vital component of our public transport system. The strike is having a big impact on commuters in Limerick. Small businesses in Limerick city which are dependent on passing trade have experienced a drop in turnover. People are not able to access the city in the normal way. I ask that these be fruitful talks.

One of the elements that has to come into play is the public service obligation, PSO, services. The PSO model has not kept pace with the Expressway route. Bus Éireann is servicing towns along those routes that private operators are not servicing. There has to be a PSO element because there is not a level playing field. We need fairness. People using free travel passes on the service are rightly entitled to do so. However, Bus Éireann is not compensated for that. I welcome that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has said that the PSO model will be looked at again.

I wish the talks well. It is extremely important for the sake of the workers, their families, Bus Éireann and Ireland Inc. in terms of public transport system that there is a speedy resolution which is to everyone's satisfaction, especially for the workers and their families about whom I am concerned.