However, speaking in the Dail last night, Shane Ross said he won't intervene in the current dispute between management and workers – because that's the job of the Labour Court.
Minister Ross said Sean Lemass designed an industrial relations system, and he won't break it – but said the system will need more investment in future:
Three of the unions representing drivers at Bus Eireann have voted in favour of strike action.
Unite, SIPTU and the NBRU voted for industrial action following the company's threat of unilateral pay cuts from the 20th of this month.
Regional Officer with Unite, Willie Quigley, says this dispute could have been resolved, if the Transport Minister had facilitated positive engagement between all stakeholders: