Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am well aware of the nature of disputes and how sensitive and serious they can become. Far from using the cliché of "well tried mechanisms", the Labour Relations Commission has been an outstanding success over the years. On occasion, it has spent many hours of intensive discussion trying to sort out disputes between employees and employers. A better way has not been found - except probably in some dictatorships, which we are not - to resolve disputes. I feel strongly that in regard to the particular dispute mentioned by Deputy Adams and others, a resolution has to be found. The way forward is to explore all the possibilities that exist under the Labour Relations Commission, which is the official machinery of the State. The officials of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, are available at any time to assist in that overall work. I would like to see a resolution to these disputes, but the best process is to get involved with the Labour Relations Commission, which has a proven record of bringing parties together where sensitive disputes like this have occurred. While talks were suspended in the Vita Cortex case, I hope they can be resumed and a way forward found. At the end of the day, a resolution for that dispute has to be found in any event.

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