Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It seems extraordinary that workers should be asked to take a cut of between €250 and €270 per week without any discussion or without any notice being given to them. I find it equally extraordinary that what appear to be untrained workers driving substantial trucks have been involved in the kind of incidents the Deputy has described. Clearly, the Labour Relations Commission has an opportunity to get involved here. The machinery of the State has worked exceptionally well in many difficult and sensitive circumstances over the years. I see the workers the Deputy mentioned in the Visitors' Gallery. I would expect that any company, private or public, would be amenable to the machinery of the State becoming involved in a dispute such as this. The danger arising from the incidents the Deputy has recounted is palpable. From the perspective of the Government, the capacity of the State to intervene is through the LRC and other mechanisms. I would be happy to see those mechanisms made available for these workers in respect of the company they are dealing with.

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