Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Neither is there any point in the Minister saying how much sympathy he has for the workers. Workers up and down the country believe it is not just Irish Ferries that is coming to get them. They believe if this phenomenon of displacement were to take effect in other industries, their jobs would be insecure. This is apart from the considerations raised by Deputy Kenny about trade, tourism and industrial relations.

I will ask the Minister for Finance one simple question. Is he going to deny this company the right to reflag its vessels in Cyprus, as he is entitled to do under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea? If so, let the company then contest it through the judicial procedure that is established by way of tribunal to decide it if it wishes to appeal.

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