Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept - far from it - that we are not affected. We are all affected by this. Obviously, Ministers have ministerial duties to perform and, thankfully, we have been able to do that to the best of our ability. We have an ongoing industrial relations dispute here which is affecting all Members in one way or another. I do not accept the contention that certain people are being exempted from the impact of the action. We are all affected in the same way, as one would expect.

There are well-established channels of communication, as the Deputy knows, in an industrial relations dispute where staff representation and management maintain contact to ensure there are no unintended consequences in respect of an action going beyond what was envisaged. There is a preparedness in good industrial relations practice to ensure wider effects beyond what was intended do not occur. Contact is ongoing in this respect.

The optimum solution is to find a resolution to the problem and finding a basis for engagement is ongoing. However, that is a separate matter. In the handling of the dispute, we must ensure that we avoid unintended effects. Unfortunately, the nature of some the actions taken have affected how public representatives are able to discharge their parliamentary duties for their constituents, as in the answering of parliamentary questions.

We must see if we can ameliorate, mitigate or minimise these impacts. It is causing inconvenience and having an effect. Obviously, it was not intended to have no effect. When we, on behalf of management, bring it to the attention of staff interests that vulnerable people are affected or have had their entitlements deferred as a result of the action, we must ensure, through the normal arrangements, that such unintended consequences are avoided.

We have a dispute situation here and it is having some effects. These effects and inconveniences are being articulated by all sides of the House.

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