Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked that I send a signal, which I am doing now. The dispute should and can be resolved, the strike on Thursday can be avoided and the disruption to patients does not have to happen. The matter can be resolved by referral to the Labour Court, where a decision on the issue can be taken. That is how it can best be resolved.

The Deputy asked that I send a signal and I am doing so. I ask that he consider the signals he is sending. He will recall this time last week when, in the morning, he was critical of Government for increasing spending too fast and critical of us for not managing the health budget well enough. I informed him that that was doublespeak because, that evening, he was demanding pay increases for the Defence Forces. I said that he had no particular regard for the Defence Forces and that it would be another group next week, and here he is again this week, doing what he always does-----

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