Smith, Bríd

Leaders' Questions (Continued)

Over recent days I have had the honour and privilege of meeting some very fine Irish men and women on the Bus Éireann picket lines. One of them, Tommy St. Ledger in Broadstone, has worked 51 years...

I want the Taoiseach to answer this question directly. Does he believe anyone could justify taking 30% of the wages of those three people I have given him as examples? That is what is being pro...

There is a crisis in the company. I will not stand here and deny there is a deficit and a crisis. However, it is not a crisis like a volcanic eruption in Iceland or a storm hitting the west coast...

At the same time, this Government and the previous one have consistently cut the subsidy to Bus Éireann. The subsidy Bus Éireann gets as a public transport company is 12%. Guess how much public...

The crisis in Bus Éireann has been manufactured consistently and continually by this Government and the previous one. Then there is the extraordinary situation of a Minister for Transport, Touri...

I have two questions for the Taoiseach. I ask him to explain that last position. How does his Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport not have anything to do with a national transport strike?...

The Taoiseach's answer that this is commercial competition flags up why this is of interest to every transport worker not just Bus Éireann workers. The NTA has deliberately forced Bus Éireann into...

It is still below 2009 levels.

I have a letter from the NTA encouraging others to go out and break this strike. The Government's policy is encouraging strike-breaking.

It is outrageous.

It will be more than a spillover. The Taoiseach has not explained why the Minister for Social Protection gives private operators a 70% subsidy.

The Taoiseach still has not explained why the Minister for Social Protection gives them a subsidy of 70%.

So the Taoiseach will come out and say hello.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has to be at that table.

He is the Minister for transport.

There is a 30% pay cut for Michael and the workers I described.

After-School Support Services

Asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: the total funding available to implement the action plan for school age children; and the way in which this will deliver affordable care for children out of school hours.

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: if she will report on the progress of Ireland taking in unaccompanied minors from Calais and on the setting up of the national project office to care for these children.