Rail strike and review
Deputy Robert Troy asks when the rail stakeholder forum and review will begin amid the strike dispute. The Taoiseach says the Labour Court is the best forum and reiterates Department figures on average earnings.
To be helpful, in fact, in 2014 the rail workers took a wage cut, which was to last 28 months and has not been fully reversed. The Taoiseach said they did not but they did.
In regard to the rail strike, if the Minister, Deputy Ross, advised the Cabinet of what the current situation is, how is the Taoiseach not aware or able to advise the House today when the stakeholder forum will commence and when the rail review will be published? One would imagine they would be key to the Minister's advice to the Cabinet earlier today. If the Taoiseach is not able to advise me now, can he give an undertaking to revert to me later today or tomorrow with that information?
Comment on this
If I am incorrect on that matter, I stand corrected, although I am informed from the Department that, since 2008, there has been a total increase in the average earnings of full-time workers of 2.2%.
Comment on this
Where some people say there has been no pay increase for ten years, and the Deputy is saying there has been a cut and a part-reversal, the information I have from the Department is that there has actually been a 2.2% increase in average earnings of full-time workers. This is exactly why these issues are best examined by the Labour Court, which can listen to both sides, assess the different claims and make a recommendation.