Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

That is one of the possibilities which can be explored, provided we have the time to do so. That will be an important element of this matter.

On what the national implementation body and the Labour Court can do, it is difficult to predict the outcome of this dispute. The week before last, I did not hold great hopes in terms of another dispute but it worked out extraordinarily well. It is fair to say that both bodies have a positive record. It is in everybody's interest that all parties enter the negotiations directly rather than through an intermediary. The sooner that is done, the more likely it will be that the bodies will be successful.

The draft EU directive on ferries has apparently existed since 2000. Over the past year I have become familiar with draft EU directives. It does not surprise me to find that a draft directive is in the works for a considerable period. The good news is that, ultimately these directives ——

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