Bríd Smith
Question:527. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has or will meet with officials of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, given the seriousness of the Luas dispute. [7796/16]
View answerWednesday, 20 April 2016
Questions (527, 528, 529, 530, 531)
Bríd Smith
Question:528. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport given that Transdev Ireland has repatriated almost €10 million in profits back to the parent company in France from the Luas operation since 2009, and considering that Transport Infrastructure Ireland and its predecessor, the Railway Procurement Agency, have boasted of the success of Luas and its role in helping the agencies post profits, if this does not highlight the need for Transport Infrastructure Ireland to immediately negotiate with Transdev Ireland with a view to insuring that Luas workers achieve a just settlement of their dispute. [7797/16]
View answerBríd Smith
Question:529. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of plans by Transdev to issue protective notice to Luas workers, given the ongoing dispute, and that in a letter from the company, the employment of the workers was drawn into question if they continued to engage in strike action; his views that the right to strike and collective bargaining are effectively being challenged in this correspondence from Transdev. [7798/16]
View answerBríd Smith
Question:530. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his role and that of Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding Transdev's actions and if Transport Infrastructure Ireland was made aware of Transdev's stance with regard to workers prior to its public announcement. [7799/16]
View answerBríd Smith
Question:531. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that one of main stumbling blocks to the acceptance of the Workplace Relations Commission proposals in the Transdev dispute was the clause to significantly worsen the pay and conditions for new drivers; his views regarding this proposal, given that current workers' starting salaries are below the average industrial wage and that such workers would have trouble renting homes or taking out mortgages in the Dublin area. [7800/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 to 531, inclusive, together.
I will also forward question number [7799] to TII for direct reply. Please contact my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
I last met with TII on 11 January 2016. My Department receives regular updates and briefing from the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on all relevant issues including the current Luas dispute.
As part of these updates and briefing that I have been receiving in relation to the dispute, I was aware of the possibility of Transdev, taking certain measures but I should stress that my consent was not required. I have no shareholder role in the case of Transdev. I have already indicated that I do not personally agree with measures to recover strike costs from workers.
As Minister, I have no function in relation to the employment, or terms and conditions of employment, of Transdev employees. Nor does NTA or TII have any employment relationship with Transdev employees. They are employees of Transdev, a private company. This 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 believe that any intervention by me, or indeed others without a legal function or role in this dispute, is not helpful. Resolution of the dispute lies with the employer and the employees. The State has well established industrial relations institutions which are ready to assist the relevant parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. In that regard I welcome the news that bilateral talks are taking place this week between Transdev and its employees.
I have been 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 taxpayer and the travelling public, and to encourage the parties to work to resolve their differences in a manner that is fair, affordable, and sustainable.