Efforts to resolve the threatened strike at Bus Eireann continued yesterday as the Minister for Public Enterprise had separate meetings with unions and management. Ms O'Rourke will assess the situation and then report on the situation to the Cabinet.
Her intervention in the dispute late on Monday night prevented the strike starting in four cities yesterday. She made her surprise move after talks broke down at the Labour Relations Commission.
The talks ended when the unions rejected a management offer to defer the introduction of minibuses in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford until August 12th.
A spokesman for the Minister said she was concerned about the threat of strike and was anxious to speak to all sides to see if a solution could be worked out. "She will be listening to both sides to hear first hand what they have to say and see how she can chart a way forward for the viability talks. She will then report back to the Cabinet to discuss the situation further."
Yesterday morning, Ms O'Rourke briefed the Cabinet on the current situation, an indication of how serious the Government is taking the possibility of a strike, which would have a major impact on passengers at the height of the holiday season.
It is felt that the core issue - the viability plan for CIE - will have to be addressed, as the financial situation of the company is worsening all the time. It is understood that the viability plan, which has been deadlocked for about 18 months, will have to be resolved.
The Minister is anxious that the matter be worked out on a "partnership basis", with both sides working together. Partnership was the way forward and tough decisions would have to be made, but everybody would be involved in a meaningful way for the ultimate benefit of passengers.
The Cabinet was concerned about the deteriorating situation in CIE and was anxious to see it sorted out.
Both sides have given the Minister "as long as it takes" to try to work out an agreement.
The General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, Mr Peter Bunting, said there would have to be an independent chairman for any future viability talks.
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