Mr. Séamus Dooley:

I want to answer Senator Davitt's very specific question. For the purpose of linguistic and gender balance I will also ask Ms Ní Fhlatharta to elaborate on it. We have consulted and Ms Ní Fhlatharta will explain our research in that regard. I know Senator Davitt is concerned over why members of the union would oppose something that on the face of it looks good. Much of this comes down to the old dictum of "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." The experience of recent developments in Independent News and Media give people pause for thought.

We work very closely with Mr. Mulrennan and Mr. Pitt. I have called him many things in the past but never an absentee landlord. We will continue that relationship. We have a concern over how outsourcing happened and how this acquisition was announced overnight on Twitter. Trustees of the pension scheme were not consulted. It was a breach of the Pensions Act. The chair of the trustees, who is also the company secretary, has described it as something that is neither morally nor legally justified. On that basis there is a concern about this purchase.

Some of what has been said today and some of the assurances may give people pause for thought and reflection. I have no doubt people will consider some commitments that have been given. However, they will have to weigh those against the track record of the proposed purchaser in honouring or not honouring previous commitments.