Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

As the Minister responsible for the implementation of the Companies Acts, have the fitness to practise provisions been examined regarding the directors of Irish Ferries? These are executive and non-executive directors who have stood idly by and witnessed acts of intimidation, possible uses of violence and threats to use tear gas. If the Companies Acts do not include these matters in the fitness to practise provisions, will they be included in the forthcoming review of the Acts?

The Minister of State has experienced difficulties in reaching trilateral agreements with Britain and France. However, the Treaty of Nice, although some of us voted against it, includes the provision of enhanced co-operation to secure agreement between member states in a situation which is above EU law. If the Government has not examined these provisions, it is not doing its job.

See this speech in context