Mr. Kieran Mulvey:

The issue here is not to overlay or replace the existing industrial relations processes and procedures that deal with the normal issues of pay and the terms and conditions of employment, etc. The terms of reference are such that I have no direct involvement in those matters and it is important that those processes are allowed to continue because if people feel there a different process is in place, they will not utilise those to the full. I am clearly of the view that there must be engagement with the workers on the wider strategic and operational issues that will affect the midlands and the existing and future employment of those workers. That does not include getting into pay, terms and conditions because if I got into those issues, I would never get out of them, in my experience. One would be negotiating for months when other, well-established institutions exist to do that.