Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yet again, the Minister is pleading the position of the hurler on the ditch. He rightly identified the involvement of the trustees, the pension board, the members and others. He also has some advice for them and is encouraging them to use the good offices of the State's industrial relations machinery. In addition, he has set out the case regarding the impact of such a strike. The only matter the Minister neglected to identify is that the State is the only shareholder in the three State airports, which is a significant component of the entire pension fund.

In addition, the Minister is a significant shareholder in Aer Lingus. I therefore do not accept his position that he is somehow a casual observer standing on the ditch. His role is far more involved than that. I would like to see him taking a more proactive role in trying to broker a solution to this crisis. The sooner the Minister involves himself, the sooner we can bring about a resolution.

See this speech in context