Opposition parties have criticised Minister for Transport Shane Ross’s handling of the Bus Éireann dispute after public transport services were halted across the country on Wednesday morning in a series of unofficial secondary pickets.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams called on the Taoiseach to demand that Mr Ross intervenes in the crisis, saying:
“The sad reality is that his boss, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, is allowing Minister Shane Ross to sit on his hands as the chaos Bus Éireann continues.
“The crisis at Bus Éireann, and right across our public transport network, has been caused by bad policy and now by the inaction of Minister who has a very clear privatisation agenda.
“The Taoiseach, who is happy to turn a blind-eye, is completely complicit.
“When a Minister is so blatantly failing to act, it is the responsibility of the Taoiseach to sort that out.”
Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Robert Troy said the placing of secondary pickets by Bus Éireann workers at Dublin Bus and Irish Rail depots is unacceptable and cannot be condoned.
“Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been left without a service with no prior notice. The placing of secondary pickets cannot be condoned. No one should be prevented from accessing their workplace as a result of unsanctioned strike action,” he said.
“Serious questions now have to be asked regarding Minister Ross’s handling of the Bus Éireann dispute. He has continued to take a completely hands-off approach which has further alienated both workers and passengers.”
‘More strikes’
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar said he agreed with Ross’s refusal to intervene in the dispute.
“Shane Ross is right. The one thing that would happen if a Minister got involved would be that it would escalate and there would be more strikes.”
Mr Varadkar said that while Bus Eireann was an important company and service, it was not essential and that ‘most of the work it does’ could be done by private operators.
“But it still has a role and it is important that this dispute is resolved.”
Replacing Bus Eireann was not the preferred option, but over time there will be more and more private services, he said.
Mr Varadkar added that he wants Bus Eireann to be a successful company and to even tender for contracts in other countries like the ESB and DAA have done.
He acknowledged that the Expressway service is losing money where it was competing with cheaper private services.
“There are other factors at play here.”
He said it was important that reforms take place within the company.
“If that doesn’t happen then we will be back here again in three years.”
People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said the work stoppages are “a signal that workers will no longer accept attacks on their living standards”.
“I fully support them and urge workers to keep up the pickets until they secure their rights,” Ms Smith said.