Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the many witnesses for attending the meeting. They have brought the cavalry with them, and rightly so. I can recognise the urgency of this matter. A few weeks ago, Mr. Noone and nine of his colleagues from the group of unions came to Leinster House to meet Deputies. They tried to communicate the message from the unions and the workers to the people who will be affected. As a former worker in Bord na Móna, I understand that. I recall the unionisation process. Ned O'Rourke was involved in a federated rural workers' union. When that was happening, I was not as grey as I am now. We saw the benefits at an early stage. Unfortunately, we are going backwards now.

I would like to pick up on the point about the quality of jobs. Bord na Móna management will say that some of the industries into which they are moving, such as waste processing, are not cash rich and have very low margins. If de-unionisation is happening, I would be concerned about that. I have listened attentively to what the witnesses have said and I have taken their points on board. We need to be careful with regard to pay rates and collective bargaining. If collective bargaining is not nailed down before the workers go out the gate, it is all over. I agree that there is some urgency in this regard. It is a question of what we can do. Deputy Cullinane suggested that we should approach the Minister. The Minister has some responsibility as the shareholder who acts on behalf of the public. When Bord na Móna was set up, it had a mandate for the economic development of the midlands and to create jobs in the midlands. We need to stick to that.

Ms King has said that the WRC could chair the just transition forum. Does she believe the commission is willing to be involved in it? There is a need for the workers to be represented in some kind of forum. It is not acceptable that they have not been brought in so far. Have WRC officials shown a willingness to engage in the forum?