Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The only way to do this is to facilitate union organising and to encourage workers to join a trade union.

I say to the Labour Party Deputies, "Come on, lads." They should support the Sinn Féin amendment. They should begin the long and arduous task ahead of them by saying sorry to those workers whose rights they trampled on through the arrogance created on foot of the previous Government's majority. They should look at the result of the most recent election. They should look around them at their depleted ranks and reflect on the reason for this. It is not all about water. Even if it is convenient to blame it on water, they know the real reason they are sitting here with depleted numbers. They should listen to the message the electorate gave them in the most recent election.

To Deputy Howlin, if I may, I would like to say that I have never been out of my depth in any industrial relations matter - not today, not yesterday, not ever. Nor will I ever be in the future.

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