Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

It is a question. I am asking the Taoiseach whether he agrees that no effective barriers have been placed in the way of employers getting rid of workers in favour of cheaper labour, especially cheaper migrant labour? This question merits an answer.

Does the Taoiseach agree that the entire partnership process, even while it was being negotiated this time around, has been shown again to be a fraud and a con when we witness one of the most profitable institutions, namely, the Bank of Ireland, which made a profit of €1.3 billion, dismantling its defined benefit pension scheme for workers during the course of the negotiations? What kind of partner for workers would dismantle its pension scheme while it is supposed to be part of a partnership agreement?

Is the Taoiseach very pleased that he has got away with it yet again? After months of seemingly tortuous negotiations, from the perspective of workers, the mountain has laboured and brought forth a mouse. The Taoiseach must be very happy that trade union leaders are prepared to put such a useless deal to workers.

See this speech in context