Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Minister of State whether she had read the survey. She came in here, read a script and did not answer the question so I invite her to answer it when she replies. Has she read the survey? She stated that the Government must manage the situation delicately. The Government has managed it so delicately that it has managed to become the first Government in the history of the State to preside over a national ambulance strike. Tomorrow, we face the fourth day of national strike action. In such circumstances, the Minister of State should not think that the Government's delicacy has got us very far in that regard. She said that this union cannot be recognised because three unions are already represented. She mentioned SIPTU, Fórsa and Unite. Is she aware that the membership of the PNA in the ambulance service is greater than the membership of Fórsa and Unite combined? She mentioned a figure of 350. The real figure is more than 500 but even if we took the figure of 350, it is probably more than double the membership of those two unions put together. It would be very close to that in any case so that is an excuse and the Minister of State is not going to hide behind that.

Tomorrow is the fourth day of strike action. These workers and their issues are not going away. The workers will keep fighting and campaigning until such time as their union is recognised and people sit down and talk to them. Is the Minister of State prepared to give any commitment tonight that the Government is prepared to do that or will she force these workers out on strike again?

See this speech in context