Ms Mairéad de Buitléir:

I know that some of our members are really struggling and if there is an illness or an extra issue they just do not have the money. It has been frustrating for us because we cannot talk to the trustees and, as we have said, we have been completely locked out of all the other machinery of the State. We have had no avenue to negotiate or to get representation or arbitration and that is crucial for us at this stage. We need to be able to talk to people and this is a very important point.