National News

An Bille Údarás Iompair Bhaile Átha Cliath 2008
Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008

A special meeting, to discuss the implications of the legislative Bill referred to in the heading, instigated by our Executive Committee member and a number of other prominent TSSA members, was convened in the Gresham Hotel at 05.30 hours yesterday evening.

The special guest speaker Deputy Tommy Broughan T.D. who has been liasing with TSSA in relation to our members interests whilst the Bill has been progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas was welcomed to the meeting as was Assistant General Secretary Manuel Cortes, by E.C. member Larry Burtenshaw who also Chaired the debate.

A sizeable number of members attended together with Senior Irish Organiser Carla McCambridge and former Irish Secretary Rodger Hannon who had been engaged to track and report on the process.

At the outset of the meeting Deputy Broughan outlined the background leading to the establishment of a Dublin Transport Authority and indicated that the legislation had gestated over a twenty year period. He emphasised that there had been no planning for public transport within the huge building expansion that had burgeoned throughout the country for more than a decade.

The initial legislation had emerged in Seanad Éireann, was then processed through the Dáil Éireann Joint Committee stages where over one hundred amendments were unsuccessful and the final debate is to be guillotined in the Dáil this evening. Following subsequent final ratification in Seanad Éireann the President will sign the emerging Bill into Law.

South Louth and Drogheda are not included in the GDA. The Minister will appoint the Authority's Board and an Advisory Board incorporating two Trade Union representatives will also be inaugurated. He had asked that the majority of the Board would be elected by a variety of bodies in 2009 but the Minister would not agree.

All the licensing goes back to the 1932 Act.

A section of the bill covers staff being seconded to the DTA. Under amendment 67 Deputy Broughan is seeking compliance with standard agreements and that the Labour Court would review workers' rights, conditions etc. every few years.

The DTO has been preparing plans for 2030. The DTA is now taking over and will follow this plan which will include traffic management plans.

Regarding the future of the CIE holding company, under the legislation Government funding will be transferred directly to the subsidiary companies by the Authority.

The RPA has not been taken over by the DTA at this stage.

A very interesting and informative debate followed and many questions arose from the floor.

Included were questions as to the future of the Holding Company and whether it is proposed to transfer staff from the Holding Company into the DTA?

The pensions booklet states that the CIE Board supports the pension fund. If contribution levels need to be increased and the Companies cannot afford their contribution, responsibility reverts to the Board of CIE. If under a clause of the proposed legislation CIE cannot sell property to raise capital what happens to a pensions shortfall?

How soon will it affect the staff?

The DTA will award contracts. The Dept of Transport will award licences. How will that affect integration?

When the DTA have a five year contract with a company, how will they be in a position to fund these contracts?

When will the Board of the DTA be announced?

Concerns relating to the solvency of the Pension Fund if anything happens to CIE which applies to all staff?

What is the situation regarding the decentralisation of 200 staff (Irish Rail, Holding Co &

Bus Eireann) to Bus Eireann in Mitchelstown which has been linked to the subventions?

What happens to Bus Eireann jobs if Civil Servants opt to transfer to Bus Eireann in Mitchelstown?

Will the Government pay the cost to the pension fund, which has been estimated at €100m if 200 Civil Servants transfer to Bus Eireann in Mitchelstown?

Answers given included affirmation that as well as Dublin Bus, most of Bus Eireann and Irish Rail will be affected by the DTA.

Elements of the Holding Company will be absorbed within the DTA however the Holding Co. will have a future role regarding pensions etc.

It is not expected that staff will be affected this year.

The Minister is bringing forward a licensing bill in October.

It is expected that the Board of the DTA will be announced in the Autumn.

Rodger Hannon mentioned that the need for an Dublin Transport Authority had been debated for some years. Circulars on the matter had been issued by Irish Office listing the concerns of our Salaried Members, which had been raised, including protection of 1951 Superannuation Scheme, job security/involuntary redundancy, application of the TUPE Legislation, voluntary transfer to the new body, a suitable Early Retirement scheme, section 14(7) of The Transport (Reorganisation of CIE) Act 1986 (letters of comfort) future of the CIE Medical Scheme and the preservation of members Travel; Facilities.

The Minister had not replied in any detail to a more recent letter from Senior Irish Organiser Carla McCambridge. Important issues which it had not been possible to resolve in the political arena will have to be addressed in the Industrial Relations machinery.

The new body will affect the work in varying degrees throughout the CIE Group and despite assurances job losses in the Holding Company seem inevitable. The question will be what happens when someone's work transfers as under TUPE Legislation individuals have the right to transfer with their work.

Manuel Cortes spoke of the need to campaign and tie into contacts in ICTU and the Dáil. Also there is a need to engage all staff and the need to monitor and influence decisions.

Carla McCambridge recalled that a committee had been set up in Broadstone when decentralisation first arose. As many questions had not been answered there is now a need revitalise that group.

In closing the meeting E.C. Member Larry Burtenshaw advised all attending that this was the first of many meetings through which these matters will be pursued. He thanked all for attending and for the high level of participation before closing the meeting at 7.00pm.

Members will be kept advised of any further developments in due course.

Carla McCambridge: Senior Irish Organiser

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