Section E on page 134 of the programme for Government commits to public transport infrastructure and the provision of adequate capacity on service lines. Last week, I raised the issue of bus services being heavily disrupted in north Kildare-south Meath. Over the weekend, we learned that Irish Rail strikes were planned for the coming months. I believe that six dates have been announced. From dealings with the National Transport Authority, I am aware that not only are service disruptions becoming the norm, but planned service improvements have been deferred, for example, the ten-minute DART and extra services from Kildare through the Phoenix Park tunnel into the city centre. These improvements have been deferred, rescheduled or postponed indefinitely due to what appears to be ongoing industrial unrest, but that is not clear in some cases. What actions is the Government taking on these issues?

These are very important matters, and probably matters that would be better answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport than me. I am very encouraged by the fact that we are seeing a significant increase in the number of people using public transport this year and last year, and a lot of that is down to the improvements in the economy and the fact that there are more people working. I am looking forward in a few weeks' time to opening the Luas cross-city with the Minister, Deputy Ross, which is a project that I signed the order on seven years ago. I remember well at the time that, when my officials told me that it would take seven years, I thought, "Sure, I never know where I will be then".

Look at the Taoiseach now.

Sure, that is no place.

It is good to see those improvements happening but, on a more serious point, I certainly would share the Deputy's concerns that any industrial dispute or any strike in Irish Rail would impact very seriously on taxpayers, passengers, and working people. Strikes, unfortunately, in the transport sector happen too often. They are always resolved in the normal way with the engagement of the Workplace Relations Commission and sometimes the Labour Court. I would really express my wish on behalf of the Government and people and passengers that the deal that they are inevitably going to come to anyway they come to without unnecessary strikes.