Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach agree that the proposed EU budget as discussed in Britain, offers very little to the 98 million people at risk from poverty across Europe and more than 20 million unemployed people? The broad economic and political priorities, as laid out in the budget, are not geared to tackle these problems. The contrary is the case and the political and social thrust of what was discussed has contributed to the issues and problems to which I refer.

In that context did the Taoiseach use the opportunity of the European Council meeting to raise the issue, formally or informally, of the intention of Irish Ferries to dump its Irish-based workforce, to introduce a €3.50 per hour rate of pay, to exploit overseas nationals, to flout Irish industrial relations good practice that has been built up over many years, and to do that under a flag of convenience? Does the Taoiseach agree that the only way to deal with Irish Ferries is through international co-operation and legal changes and that the EU has a critical role to play in that regard?

Has the Taoiseach called and, if not, will he call on the EU to take the lead in this respect, particularly on intra-EU ferry crossings so that the EU would ensure all ferry services operating under flags of convenience are obliged to operate best practice in respect of industrial relations that apply across the EU? That must include pay and conditions and adherence to minimum standards applicable across the EU.

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