Public transport workers keep our cities, towns and rural areas moving. They get essential workers to their jobs and people to college and to school. They connect us all. Far too often, they face abuse and violence on the job. Following a recent survey by SIPTU, it was revealed that more than 80% of public transport workers suffer regular instances of abuse, which is absolutely unacceptable. SIPTU's Respect Transport Workers campaign demands change now. Even over the past couple of weeks, we have seen further reports in the national media of violence and attacks on our public transport system and towards our public transport workers. Every worker deserves a safe environment to work in, free from harassment and threats. We need immediate action on the demands of the Respect Transport Workers campaign, a dedicated unit of An Garda Síochána for public transport, a national transport advisory council with worker representation on the council, and a clear and proper transport charter. In April, the Tánaiste said that the Government was going to move on providing a dedicated unit of gardaí for transport police. We are now on the cusp of July and a Dáil recess. Where is that unit?

In April, I said that Fianna Fáil was committed to bringing it forward in terms of policy blueprints for the future. I believe in a transport police. The Garda Commissioner has a different view. In my view, the level of abuse and attacks on public sector transport workers is unacceptable. SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union have been very strong advocates for a transport police to protect workers and passengers. Some passengers were assaulted recently on public transport. It is a very serious issue because parallel with our climate policies is the whole idea of doubling the number of people who will be on public transport into the future. Passengers and workers must feel safe. As a policy orientation, I am certainly committed to that.