Vol. 497 No. 6
135 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline the role of a person (details supplied) in the CIE Group; if she has appointed this person; to whom he reports; his relationship with the existing CIE management structure and board; and the progress, if any, made to date in ensuring agreement and implementation of the CIE viability plan. [26069/98]
Following my intervention in the threatened Bus Éireann strike in July 1997, I held a series of consultations with management and unions in the CIE companies and the Labour Relations Commission. There was general agreement that the negotiations in each of the CIE companies should continue with the assistance of facilitators appointed by the Labour Relations Commission. There was also a view that CIE should retain the services of a suitably qualified person from outside the company to assist in the co-ordination of its approach to the negotiations. I put this view to the company and suggested that the person referred to in the question might fulfil that role. The company considered this view and in a press statement dated 31 July 1997, the CIE chairman announced that in order to facilitate swift progress in these negotiations CIE was willing to appoint a facilitator with a view to achieving early agreement. CIE subsequently appointed the person referred to in the question to assist the operating companies in the negotiations. His role, to whom he reports and his relationship with the ClE management and board is a matter between the parties involved.
The restructuring negotiations in the individual operating companies are proceeding slowly but significant progress has been made in recent days with the acceptance by drivers in Dublin Bus of the restructuring proposals put forward by that company. I also welcome the acceptance last week by the trade unions representing the Iarnród Éireann locomotive drivers of the proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission for the continuation of negotiations with that company.
