Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I have already responded to the point made by Deputy O'Dowd. On Deputy Broughan's point, I emphasise that the overtime arrangement is not an ad hoc one. People are not dragged out of bed to work 51 hours on the trot. As I understand, it is a specific arrangement that was agreed in principle under Partnership 2000. That principle was clearly established subsequent to that and is referred to as crewing to workload. This is what is now at issue but it was signed up to voluntarily by both sides.

The issues that have been ongoing for more than a year were dealt with and finalised through the correct procedures. I wish good luck to anybody who achieves what the air traffic controllers achieved through that process. They have been well served by the labour relations machinery of the State. They should remain within that system instead of threatening strikes.

See this speech in context