Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Essentially the partnership talks will deal with major issues of national and international importance. Is the Taoiseach taking account of how the sale of the Great Southern Hotels could perhaps dominate proceedings? Does he believe the approach should be much more understanding of the concerns of those employed in the hotels in that, prior to the matter being raised at the partnership talks, there should be discussions on whether rationalisation will be involved as well as on any other changes that might be envisaged? Otherwise the current situation has the potential to derail the process. I urge the Taoiseach to take this seriously into account so that the partnership talks will not be derailed for want of some diplomacy, of which he claims to have some knowledge.

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