Leo Varadkar has admitted the Government does have the power to allow civilians to use bus lanes during the Dublin Bus strike.
However, he said there were good safety reasons for not doing so.
Minister Varadkar served as Transport Minister during a three-day strike in 2012.
He said it was up to current Transport Minister Shane Ross to consider the measure now.
"They're still used by other bus services and taxis," he said. "Bus and taxi drivers are trained in how to weave in and out of bus lanes, having a whole stream of private cars suddenly stopping in the middle of the road where the bus lane stops could create road safety issues."