Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

We are talking about industrial relations and public service unions. This is an example of a problem that has festered on the watch of the current Taoiseach and his predecessor which has left children at risk. It is a dispute that both the union and the Government kept secret for eight years. It took the Ombudsman for Children to reveal the existence of this dispute and the impact on child protection. I think that is a serious issue and the House is entitled to hear what the Taoiseach has to say about it. Is he going to do anything to have this dispute resolved? Is he going to intervene in it? Is he going to order his Minister of State with responsibility for children to intervene? Is he going to ask his Minister for Health and Children why she has done nothing about it since 2005?

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