Vol. 482 No. 6
136 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the current position in relation to the implementation of the CIE viability plan for each of its three subsidiaries; if there is a deadline for agreement in relation to these talks; and the further role, if any, she will have in the matter. [18586/97]
165 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the action, if any, she has taken since her intervention with Bus Éireann in July 1997 to bring to a successful conclusion the development of a viability plan for CIE; if this will require legislation to facilitate the three companies in CIE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19035/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 165 together.
Córas Iompair Éireann's subsidiary companies and unions representing workers in them have been engaged in negotiations on necessary change and restructuring for some time. Shortly after taking office I had consultations with the interested parties and suggested a way forward for these negotiations. I recommended that the parties should commit themselves to reaching agreement at the earliest possible date and should agree a timetable for the successful conclusion of the negotiations in each operating company within the current calendar year, with appropriate intermediate benchmarks. Since then my Department has been monitoring the situation and, while the parties face formidable challenges, I am satisfied that some progress has already been achieved in the negotiations. However, I would stress that the successful conclusion of these negotiations is a matter for the unions and management in the individual subsidiary companies. The negotiations have also to be seen as the first stage in a process of managing change on a partnership basis. In the longer term management and unions must develop a common purpose approach towards the challenges facing the CIE group.
