Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Everyone is making an appeal to the parties to pull back from the brink. However, the Tánaiste must recognise that there are two parties on the brink. This involves not only the Garda associations but the Government as well. It is simply not satisfactory to say that this matter is being dealt with by the Labour Court. The Government is not directly involved in that process.

I am asking the Tánaiste a question in respect of the contingency plans. Can the people be safe in the knowledge that tomorrow they will be protected? The Tánaiste has told the House that she cannot say there will be sufficient contingency plans in place, but she has a responsibility to ensure that people are safe tomorrow. It is regrettable that there may be criminal gangs planning serious operations for tomorrow. Responsibility for that rests with the Garda associations; it also rests with the Government.

We heard this morning of reports suggesting that Labour Court officials may not have enough time after they met the AGSI in order for them to make recommendations. Is there any truth to these reports? Is the Tánaiste confident that the Labour Court recommendations will be out later today? Does the Tánaiste expect a ballot to take place on this issue? Have plans been put in place to meet the GRA and the AGSI to discuss either the Labour Court recommendations or contingency plans later today?

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