Varadkar: Lasting agreement 'the only way to protect jobs at Bus Éireann'
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said today that only a lasting agreement would protect the jobs of workers at Bus Éireann.
Management and unions are meeting at the Labour Relations Commission this morning to attempt to reach a settlement in the dispute over €5m worth of cost cutting measures.
The National Bus and Rail Union has suspended its strike action for 48 hours to allow the talks to take place, after two days of major disruption for passengers.
Minister Varadkar said that an agreement has to be reached this time.
"It is the third time now on which the LRC has intervened in this dispute, which is now going on for over a year," he said.
"During that year, the financial position of Bus Éireann has continued to worsen, and that's why it's very important that we have an agreement on this occasion, and that it's a lasting agreement that delivers the savings that are necessary, because that's the only way that we can protect services for passengers, it's the only way we can protect the jobs for the workers in Bus Éireann, it's the only way we can ensure the long-term viability of Bus Éireann as a company.
"I think they are three objectives which everyone shares."
The Minister also said that he is "hopeful of a settlement".
