Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do have a nice house. One of the things that happened when the FEMPI measures were introduced set a very dangerous and worrying precedent. I refer to the manner in which the collective bargaining system used by the State, as an employer, to deal with its employees and strike pay arrangements with them was fatally undermined. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, will recall that at the time of the Croke Park agreement, there were regular discussions in here and in studios about the negotiations that were under way with the trade unions, and by extension with their membership, always with the knowledge that if they did not play ball, the Minister would step in and legislate anyway. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, was using a big stick to warn people to make a deal.

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