Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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223. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the interventions he plans to make in the industrial dispute between Transdev and Luas workers; if he is aware this company is operating a State contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10901/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am of course aware that Transdev operates Luas services on the basis of a contract awarded by the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland; however, the Deputy should be aware that as Minister, I have no function in relation to either the employment of Transdev staff or their terms and conditions of employment. They are employees of Transdev, which is a private company. The current dispute is between employees, as represented by SIPTU, and their employer, Transdev. It is up to those two parties to reach a resolution with each other.

I firmly believe that any intervention by me, or indeed others without a legal function or role in this dispute, is not helpful. The State has industrial relations institutions which are ready to assist the relevant parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

I am clear however that whatever resolution is arrived at between Transdev and its employees must be delivered within the overall contractual framework Transdev has with the State. There cannot be, and there will not be, any change to that contract which runs until November 2019. I will not be opening the chequebook on behalf of the taxpayer in this matter.

My focus is to protect the interests of the travelling public, and to encourage the parties to work to resolve their differences. Any agreement must deliver sustainable wage rates that don't involve higher fares for the travelling public.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has considered availing of section 38 of the 1990 Industrial relations Act to enable her invoke the services of the Labour Court or the services of other persons in order to resolve the industrial dispute (details supplied) as an issue of huge public interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10829/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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This dispute between employees of Transdev, represented by SIPTU, and their employer has been both difficult and protracted. It has resulted in significant disruption and losses on all sides. As the Deputy will be aware significant efforts were made by the Workplace Relations Commission to assist the parties come to a resolution and protracted and intensive negotiations resulted in a set of proposals that were ultimately rejected.

The Labour Court is closely monitoring this dispute and is available to provide assistance to the parties at a time when it considers it appropriate to do so. For this reason I do not consider it would be appropriate or necessary to consider exercising powers under section 38 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.