Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the situation Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned where one has individuals who are afraid to, as he said, put their heads above the parapet, surely that is where organisations like SIPTU come in and surely this is the very valuable role trade unions play. Where workers are very concerned about their future, or are concerned that they are not being treated fairly, they have recourse to a union. We have met SIPTU and listened to what its representatives had to say. Of course, SIPTU has raised issues with us. I am not going to speak for SIPTU at this committee meeting, and I would not dream of doing so, but I will make the following general points. First, the sense that we got from the industry differs from how the Deputies have portrayed it today. Second, the issues the Deputies have raised are still important and we will meet groups that have raised these matters with them. The Department of Finance will do that, and shortly after the Finance Bill has been completed.