News

CIE unions slam bus franchising proposals

Thursday, 7 November 2002 21:10

Unions at CIE have sharply criticised proposals by the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, to franchise out Dublin bus routes and to restructure CIE.

Liam Tobin of the National Bus and Railworkers' Union described the decision as incredible. He accused the Minister of harbouring an ideology of privatisation.

Mr Tobin warned that the proposal put in great doubt the NBRU's continued participation in the partnership forum.

Liam Birney of the ICTU called on the Minister to step back from his proposals and to re-engage with the social partners.

In his proposals Mr Brennan has said up to 25% of Dublin's bus services will be franchised out to the private sector from the beginning of 2004.

He described the new arrangements as "controlled competition".

Mr Brennan also set out proposals for abolishing the CIE holding company and allowing the three subsidiaries - Iarnrod Éireann, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus - to exist as independent entities.

SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Noel Dowling, said trade union delegates at the national partnership pay talks would raise their objections to the proposals.

Meanwhile, the Dublin Transportation Office has welcomed the regulatory and structural reform proposals.

The Office said that the proposals would advance the policies and objectivesset out in its 15-year Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area - 'A Platform for Change'.

It also expressed the view that any public transport reform should have clearly defined roles and responsibilities in relation to the planning, specification, procurement and delivery of transport services.