Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister always blames the NTA, which is the regulator. Does the Minister not have influence in this situation? Privatisation is an ideology that is driven by his own party, Fine Gael. That is the problem. Even at this late hour, will the Minister intervene or even talk to the unions and not remain at arm's length in his dealings? Will he ask the unions to talk to him? Will he explain to them what is happening? Does he intend to coalesce with private interests in order to break this strike because that is what seems to be happening? This is a very important stand by the workers because they see what is coming down the road, as I do. What engagement has the Minister undertaken with the unions on these privatisation plans before going ahead with them? Did he explain what was going to happen?

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