Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The consultation process did not involve the people in the community partnerships who will be affected or the people working in the National Traveller Partnership but at a different level. The Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, made no attempt to listen to the workers' concerns about their jobs and futures and the future of the local development companies. The Taoiseach did not answer the question about the new directive, Directive 2014/24/EU, which makes it clear that member states do not have to pursue this process. If that is the case, like many others here, I would like the Minister to defend his position in railroading this procedure into community projects. It is privatisation; there is no other word for it. Any community development worker and any National Traveller Partnership worker will tell the Taoiseach that it is tendering for community projects. Will the Taoiseach take on board the concerns of the National Traveller Partnership which has voiced its concerns succinctly and eloquently to me and others who attended last week's press conference? Two Labour Party Deputies were present and I hope they will row in behind the call for the National Traveller Partnership to meet the Taoiseach and the Minister because nothing happens in the Dáil unless the Taoiseach intervenes to mark the cards of his Ministers.

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