Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Arising from the Minister of State's comment that the talks between the Government and mediation facilities are at a preliminary stage, is there not considerable merit in asking that the talks address this particular dispute as a serious obstacle to progress? Will the Minister of State convey that message to those involved in the talks to ascertain whether the dispute is blocking the advancement of the talks at a more general level? In that way, the matter could be resolved.

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