Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

During the course of the week I asked the Taoiseach and a number of his colleagues several times whether he accepts and respects the outcome of the ballot of workers in respect of Croke Park II. I never got a clear answer. He intimated that he was reflecting. He has now requested the Labour Relations Commission to reopen an engagement with unions and their workers. The manner in which the Estimates are to be brought through committees and then before the House reflects, in the clearest way, the fact that he does not have any regard or respect for the fact that the Croke Park deal was rejected because hard-wired into this Estimate and every other Estimate that will go before an Oireachtas committee and find its way to this Chamber is Croke Park II. If ever there was a case of giving the deaf ear to a democratic outcome it is here. It is absolutely inappropriate that he would put the Estimates through in this manner. I am baffled that he continues to pat himself on the back for the quality of the engagement which as the Minister said was wedded to a co-operative path with unions and their workers while, at the same time, giving them a smack on the face. He is saying it is Croke Park or Croke Park and that is the choice. As that is writ large across every Estimate we object to the taking of this Estimate with Croke Park knitted or stitched into it.

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