Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

In respect of Aer Rianta, on 18 March we were within hours of having all the airports closed as a result of industrial action. That action was threatened because of a breach of faith by the Minister, according to workers' interests in the airports. The industrial action was only called off following the intervention of the Taoiseach. The workers were no longer willing to take the Minister's word. The Taoiseach intervened on 17 March and gave a clear undertaking to the workers that the business and commercial information associated with the proposed break up of Aer Rianta would be made available to the unions at an early date. He specifically gave an undertaking that he would provide ample time for consideration of those figures prior to the publication of the State airports Bill.

It is six weeks since the strike was called off. The Minister says he intends to introduce this legislation before the end of this session, which is the beginning of July. That does not leave much time for the unions to consider that information. It has been suggested that the Minister is trying to provoke strike action by his behaviour. Why has the information not been provided? What is the reason for the delay? When does the Minister expect to make that information available to the unions, as promised by the Taoiseach?

See this speech in context