Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I pointed out to the Deputy, the Government wants a negotiated settlement to this dispute and asks both sides to use the industrial relations machinery at which the necessary expertise resides to help them resolve the problem. That is the way in which we can resolve this problem. The authority of the Government is behind the institutions of the State which are best placed to assist the parties to resolve the problem and maintain jobs and employment in this country.

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