The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, has called for the immediate suspension of all industrial action relating to the Dublin Bus dispute and the resumption of negotiations.
Answering Special Notice Questions in the Dail, Ms O'Rourke said she would not intervene in the dispute, but said the Government continued to believe that agreement was possible, based on genuine productivity and restructuring measures.
Proposals by unions and management in the past could form the basis of future talks, she said. "I welcome the proposals which the NBRU made in the earlier negotiations. If agreed and fully implemented, they would generate savings of about £2 million, out of the total of over £9 million required to meet their 20 per cent pay claim."
Dublin Bus had also tabled productivity measures at the earlier talks. These "would generate cost savings in excess of the required £9 million, without the need for job losses or impact on earnings."
These proposals could provide a basis for resumed talks, and "the State's industrial relations machinery remains available to assist where a basis exists for resumed negotiations."
She said she would be very reluctant to "go down the road of strike-breaking measures" such as bringing in the Army or private bus operators to do the job of striking bus workers.