The Transport Minister Shane Ross issued a stark warning to his fellow TDs this afternoon saying he has no intention of intervening in the current Dublin Bus strike.
Mr Ross who has been the subject of a number of calls from opposition TDs told the Dáil this afternoon that he is not a “sugar daddy” and cannot be expected to “ride in on a white horse and shining armour with a cheque book.”
Mr Ross who is well aware of the chaos of the imposed strikes has said he does not need to get involved as the issue must be resolved by union members and management alone.
The Transport Minister who has come in for a barrage of criticism from fellow cabinet members also said: “I know you say I should open the cheque book, but I’m not going to.”
“I don’t want to see the management coming to me and assuming the cheque book will be opened. The Government position is clear, this has to be resolved between the two parties [unions and management]. “I don’t understand why they don’t get around the table.”
“I’m not going to ride in on a white horse and shining armour, saying I have a cheque book,” he said, adding later he is not a “sugar daddy” for the industry.