Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The Irish Ferries fiasco has caused serious unrest in County Wexford. Most people recognise that the Government has not been proactive on this issue. These problems have beencontinuing for the past 12 months. I do not accept that the Government's hands are collectively tied on the re-flagging issue.

I am shocked at the behaviour of the company in smuggling security men on the ships and having them change into uniform once they were at sea. I am highly critical of the Taoiseach's stance on this issue. This man has often boasted of his industrial relations skills when he was Minister for Labour. Those skills have now deserted him. Even at this late stage, I urge those involved to have a change of heart. My party leader called on the Taoiseach to gather all the players, knock heads together and to sort out this mess immediately. The company and the unions should now sit down with a blank sheet and come up with some form of agreement. The moves to replace Irish workers should be halted immediately. Following that, the unions should call a halt to their actions on board the ship and everyone should then sit down calmly and talk through the issues.

I do not want to see Irish Ferries being lost to County Wexford and to Ireland. The Government has time to sort out the mess and I call on the Minister to do so immediately.

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