I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to bring the parties together for discussions and negotiations on the Bus Éireann nationwide strike. It is imposing major hardship throughout the country on workers, employers and everybody else who is badly affected. This strike has the potential to escalate with Dublin Bus and school transport services in danger as well. The Minister should not be in on the negotiations but he should use his position to request or direct all parties to suspend the strike and to sit down and negotiate. I am long enough in the Oireachtas to recall that a previous Fine Gael Government under Garret FitzGerald and Jim Mitchell abolished Irish Shipping. This left ships throughout the world, which were seized. For an island nation not to have Irish Shipping was------

And they swindled the employees out of their pensions.

The Senator, without interruption, please.

Exactly. The danger in this regard is serious. I was told by people, who are concerned, that Bus Éireann will become insolvent and then be privatised, and then there will be no nationwide service. I appeal to the unions also to wake up and go back to the negotiating table. Mr. Kieran Mulvey is from my home town and he is one of the greatest industrial relations negotiators the country has ever had. He has resolved many strikes. I appeal to the Leader and to the House to suggest to the Minister the nomination of Mr. Mulvey to come back and bring the parties together as a neutral, independent arbitrator in this dispute. With his knowledge and experience, he could resolve this issue sooner rather than later. It is extremely grave.