Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister outline to the House what the Government has already done in this dispute? What is the Government now prepared to do to prevent Irish Ferries proceeding on this disastrous course of excluding an Irish workforce, cutting wages, worsening employment conditions and tearing up industrial relations procedures? Will the Minister for Finance undertake with his ministerial colleagues to raise this matter in the European Union? Will the Government work to ensure the introduction of measures to prevent a repeat of this practice within the European Union? Will he encourage the European Union to ensure such an approach is adopted worldwide?

Is he prepared to change the position adopted by the Government in 2004 when it opposed a draft directive on European ferries at the Council of Ministers? Is he now prepared to push for such a directive to be introduced? Does he agree trade and commerce is now seriously at risk and under pressure as a result of the interface that has been created by Irish Ferries management? Will he accept that this is a strategic company for the economy? Will he accept that now is the time, although late in the day as it is, for the Government to consider the future of Irish Ferries?

Does the Minister agree that what we need is Irish Ferries within, rather than outside, State control? Would he agree that at the very least, in relation to Irish Ferries and much of which this Government has already divested itself without the approval of the people, and in the context of still considering the future of Aer Lingus, what we should have had was the retention of a golden share by the State in strategic companies concerned with air and sea connections within this island, the EU and beyond?

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