Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Since January, the members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, have been taking strike action over six days to try to achieve recognition of that union. These people are members of the single biggest union within their sector. Other unions have members but they do not have as many as NASRA. Its representatives are here today because they are taking part in a day of protest to demand that the Government talk to them and give them the recognition they deserve. The Constitution gives these people the right to join a trade union but it does not mean it can force a Government like Fine Gael - an anti-worker Government - to recognise the rights of these workers.

We call on the Government and the HSE to talk to the only party in this dispute that they have not yet spoken to. There has been dialogue between the Government and the HSE but there has been no dialogue with the men and women here today to protest. I also call on the existing unions for the sector in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to give their sisters and brothers the right to join the union of their choice. In the 21st century, the least that could be granted to Irish workers is the right to join the union of their choice and be recognised for doing so.

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