Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Minister, I take responsibility for a large number of areas. There is an enormous number of responsibilities which I welcome. Let me make it quite plain to the Deputy that one of my responsibilities is distinctively not to get involved in the nitty-gritty of an industrial dispute in various bodies under my aegis. It is specifically not up to me to do so. We have institutions of the State specifically set up for this purpose, as acknowledged by both parties. We have the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. That is why they exist, as I specifically said in my opening remarks. This relates to the question the Deputy has just asked. The two parties are not producing reasons for not talking at this stage. They are both stating they will talk without conditions. Why is that not happening? Let them come together and talk. I do not want to be there because the reason they want me to be there is they want me to come with my cheque book. That is not the role of a Minister in these disputes.