Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not say that. I wish to draw Deputy Howlin's attention to the fact that what I said was that when an economy begins to improve and strengthen, expectations rise. That does not mean it is a recipe for industrial chaos. Clearly, the efforts of Government and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in particular have been very successful in dealing with the provision of a successor to the Lansdowne Road agreement, as well as in making arrangements for other sectors to have the opportunity to vote and decide on whether they want that.

It is a fact that expectations rise. This does not mean it is a precursor to industrial chaos, as Deputy Howlin has described it, in every situation.

Several questions arise. Where can we discuss the question of a common base? Where can we discuss the question of the common floor that Deputy Howlin referred to? Where do we discuss the issue of whether this constitutes an attempt to push down wages and not have reference to either rights or responsibilities? It is a question of using the machinery of the State. That is why at this point and from this floor I exhort union and management to sit down again, take the issue at the nub of this problem - the commercial end of Bus Éireann, Expressway, which is not commercially feasible at the moment - and work out a solution in the interests of everyone, especially the travelling public, drivers and the company itself. That opportunity exists again today.

See this speech in context