Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I have much more to be doing than reading The Irish Times, and from what I can see, the Deputy spends 99.9% of his time on the Internet and the computer. I do not have the time to read The Irish Times and what it has to say.

It is my responsibility not to make any public pronouncement on the basis that we must adjudicate within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As we all know, the views of the Department of Finance relate only to that Department and I cannot give any public comment on the issue. I do not want to find myself in a position where I could be brought before the House having expressed a public opinion which, per se, is not a recommendation from the court.

I have indicated that while the partnership process is ongoing and as there has not been final deliberation on this issue, I will not expect a recommendation from the Labour Court until it comes to fruition. It is my expectation that the maturity I have seen, regardless of what has happened this week, on both sides would reflect the economic difficulties we are currently experiencing. We must await the outcome of the matter.

See this speech in context