John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As somebody who was very young in 1987, I cannot say I have instant recollection of everything from that period. Professor McDonough and Deputy Eoghan Murphy referred to the formation of social partnership. I want to dig deeper into Professor McDonough's comments about the threat of Thatcherism being introduced in Ireland. He implied that the unions felt they had to enter into social partnership to avoid Thatcherism. I have never heard of this before and I would like to know the basis on which he makes this assertion.