Minister 'needs to be more than just an onlooker' in bus dispute, says Labour Party

Transport Minister Shane Ross is set to face questions before an Oireachtas committee today over his handling of the Bus Éireann dispute.

The SIPTU and the NBRU unions have announced an all out strike from Monday in response to the company's cost saving measures.

The plan includes two routes being cut and two more being scaled back.

Thousands of commuters will face widespread disruption because of the industrial action.

Labour Party spokesman on Transport Brendan Ryan said that the Minister needs to do more to resolve the crisis.

"He needs to say something beyond 'Look, I can't solve this, I don't have a chequebook'," he said.

"He needs to be more than just an onlooker, he needs to be pressing the parties to get together and to start that with immediate effect."