Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy is looking for a signal from Government, perhaps she should allow me to speak. The signal from Government is clear. We want to find a resolution and believe it is possible to do so within the Public Service Stability Agreement. Other parties to the dispute have said that. We will only do it through intense engagement, which I hope can start imminently and that everybody can put their shoulder to the wheel. I hope we use the industrial relations mechanism that is available to us.

Regarding the statement issued the other day, it was never intended that people would find out through the media. The Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, is usually the body that issues invitations to talks. The purpose of the statement was to outline that the Government did want to put forward proposals to address a number of issues that were being validly highlighted by nurses and midwives on the picket line.

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