Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy asks me to get into a high level of detail. The problem is that we have a stand-off whereby we have not been able to get down to the business of ascertaining the number of staff who want to move as distinct from those who have been told to stand back from the situation until they see where the industrial relations process is bringing them. We are moving to a situation beyond having people picket on the streets and into an industrial relations process which will allow the parties to discuss how we will proceed with this matter and what principles should apply. To be fair to both sides, they have found a formula that enables them to get into that sort of discussion. It would not help for me to raise issues on which I may have certain opinions before the IR process is allowed to proceed, as that would undermine the purpose of the discussions. Let us not have the IR——

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