Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Joan Collins has raised a fundamentally important point here, which is that workers are without wages for five weeks. I acknowledge that Deputy Dowds met the workers last week. This dispute must be resolved but it will not be resolved with the current impasse. The way it can be resolved is to use the mechanisms of the State that are available to both sides. The Government desires a resolution and the way it must be resolved, like all other disputes, is to use these mechanisms and come to an agreement in order that work can be under way again and workers can receive their wages.

I ask everybody concerned on both sides to use these facilities. That is what they are for and they have been tried and tested in very serious cases over the years and have always proved beneficial in bringing about a conclusion. I suggest strongly that they be applied. The licensing section of the National Employment Rights Authority will deal with the allegation concerning unlicensed operations as such issues are the responsibility of NERA.

I hope this matter can be brought to a conclusion. It is not good that workers have been left without wages for five weeks. The dispute needs to be settled and can be settled and the mechanisms of the State will be beneficial in achieving that.

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