Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State may not agree with me but Ms Emer Costello, a party colleague of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, certainly agrees with me. She recently attended a launch of the TEEU union relating to a campaign to get this measure reversed. During the launch she described this as "ill-conceived" and a "retrograde step", and she questioned the timing of it, given that we are awaiting a report on the future model of apprentices in the State. There is large-scale disquiet out there. Mr. Eamon Devoy, general secretary of the TEEU, has stated that he requested a meeting with Department officials and the Minister. I do not know if he was referring to the Minister, Deputy Quinn, or the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, so perhaps that could be clarified? He has not yet been granted the meeting but the union wants to sit down and discuss the issue. Mr. Devoy has gone on record to say this is a matter which could lead to industrial action. The matter needs to be proactively addressed, so has the request for a meeting been made by the general secretary of the TEEU? If it has, why has the Minister refused to meet the union on the issue?

See this speech in context