The GRA should immediately withdraw its threatened strike action to coincide with the Tour de France, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, said.
The planned protest by GRA members over pay was not in the national interest, he told the Dail.
"If a single bus is burning somewhere in Northern Ireland, that is flashed across every screen. This year we have the Tour de France - 950 million people watching, 1,000 journalists and 500 radio stations - let's see something different on the 12th of July," said Dr McDaid.
"I would ask that the GRA would immediately withdraw their threat of action on the day of the Tour de France, because this is not in the national interest," he said.
"This is a huge bonus for this country and particularly as it occurs on the 12th of July. Let's show them what this country is really like and I feel the GRA should bear this in mind."
Mr Bernard Allen (FG, Cork North-Central) asked what discussions the Minister had held with Bord Failte and the Minister for Defence.
Dr McDaid said he had not met the Ministers for Justice or Defence, although the matter had been discussed and the Government was very concerned about it.
He was appealing to the GRA in the national interest to reconsider its action and say the Tour de France would not be affected.