Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 6

Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Rail Safety.

Ivan Yates

Question:

1 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has for the implementation phase of rail safety work; when this will be published; the level and time period of the proposed programme; and the specific rail lines to be upgraded. [3925/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke): Last November the Government decided to establish a high level task force comprising officials of my Department, the Department of Finance and CIE to prepare a report with prioritised recommendations to address the issues identified in the review of railway safety in Ireland carried out by IRMS. The task force submitted its report to me on Friday last and I am giving it urgent and detailed consideration. The report includes a detailed five year safety implementation programme covering both infrastructure investment and improved safety management. I will bring the report and my proposals to Government at the earliest possible opportunity and I will make an appropriate announcement as soon as the Government has taken the relevant decisions. In the meantime, Iarnród Éireann has been attending to the urgent safety issues identified by the consultants as well as continuing with its EU and Exchequer co-financed rail renewal programme.

Does the Minister recall in November, when the IRMS report was published, she announced she was seeking another report from the implementation task force?

No, that was asked for in the IRMS report.

The Minister said the implementation task force would have completed its work by the end of January, which would in effect be a blueprint for investment for the Minister. Given the end of January has elapsed, what is the revised date for the implementation phase of the work?

On the matter of rail safety on which there will be an all-day meeting of the relevant joint committee next week—

Which I asked for.

Absolutely.

To deal with the Deputy's allegations.

I do not wish to trespass on that.

I am sure he does not.

I am happy to. In simple terms, there is the A.D. Little report and the IRMS report. One refers to eight years of investment, the other 15 while one refers to £650 million and the other to a much lower figure. In terms of the work of the implementation task force, which is what the Minister will discuss with her Cabinet colleagues, where there is a conflict between the IRMS and the A.D. Little report, the latter of which I favour, which one will be implemented?

I wish to be clear on a number of issues. The meeting called for next Wednesday was asked for by me, not by the Deputy. I wrote to the chairman requesting it and he has written to all the Members. I did not ask for a high level implementation task force; it was referred to in the IRMS report. The task force began work around the beginning of November. I received its report last Friday but I was in bed Saturday, Sunday and Monday with the flu, something I am sure has been heard of even in the pure world of Fine Gael. I make no excuse for having it and I am still suffering from it. Therefore, I have not yet had time to read the task force report.

If read in time, it will be discussed at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. If not, it will be for the following Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. I insist on reading beforehand what I bring to Cabinet. I received the report last Friday and it will be brought to Cabinet either next Tuesday or the following Tuesday. Its recommendations include a detailed five year safety implementation programme and I will bring that to Cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity. I have only given it a sketchy look and have not gone into the detail of it, I understand there has been a good marrying of what is needed from both reports. I do not have the detail in my mind yet because I have been ill and I make no apology to the Deputy for that. Even in the pure echelons of Fine Gael, allowance must be made for people to catch a flu occasionally.

While I attack the Minister on almost every topic, being ill is not one of them. Will she publish the report she received last Friday, given the—

I will when I bring it to Cabinet.

At the appropriate stage, will she publish the report?

Is the Minister aware that Mr. John Behan, whom she appointed, is currently involved in negotiations with the locomotive drivers' unions to extend the maximum driving length for a train driver from 360 to 420 miles per day and the maximum working hours from ten to 12 a day? Given that the IRMS report was damning about the safety culture within Iarnród Éireann, it is incredible that Mr. Behan and CIE management are now proposing to put even more unacceptable hours on locomotive train drivers. Is the Minister aware of these proposals which have been greeted with horror by train drivers, who already exceed tachograph and haulage hours and other work regulations? Does she accept it undermines her safety rhetoric?

The Deputy is welcome to table a separate question on that.

Is the Minister aware that the safety culture received a damning commentary from IRMS in terms of procedures, etc.? Does she find it remarkable that, in the context of the implementation phase, CIE management and Mr. John Behan are now proposing that drivers work longer hours and travel longer journeys with only a 20 minute tea break allowed in that whole period? That is inexplicable. I would not mind if she were not aware of it because she could then disown and disapprove of it. However, it is worsening the safety situation in Iarnród Éireann instead of improving it. Is the Minister so aware?

Am I aware of what?

Is she aware that CIE management is proposing—

Stop shouting.

I apologise. I am trying to elicit an answer to my question. Is the Minister aware that CIE management, including Mr. Behan, are proposing that locomotive train drivers, instead of working a maximum of ten hours and travelling a maximum of 360 miles a day, work a maximum of 12 hours and travel a maximum of 420 miles a day, and that the training period be shortened from 72 to 48 weeks?

I am aware of talks between the Labour Relations Commission, the CIE groups of management, John Behan and the locomotive drivers. They are in discussion together and it is usual in such circumstances that details are not discussed until the final outcome. I do not wish to dwell on what the Deputy said.

On the broader issue, IRMS was scathing about the lack of a safety culture. The Deputy said on "Morning Ireland" that the matter would be addressed with silly, soft notions about training for staff in safety. Some £65 million is annotated in the IRMS report for staff safety training. Otherwise, it was scathing about the safety culture. I am aware talks are ongoing with the locomotive drivers and am kept abreast of that, but I will not go into detail.

While I accept it would not normally be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in industrial relations talks on pay and conditions or any other issue, given her rhetoric about safety, she should intervene in this case to ensure the effect of changes in the rosters of and arrangements for drivers is not such that it further undermines the safety of Irish railways. Drivers, who are the single most important facet of safety, would be put under undue and unreasonable pressure. Will she arrange for her adviser, Mr. Behan, to change course on this, because it will put unbearable pressure and risks on drivers in terms of safety?

I am sure all those matters will be taken into account.

Top
Share