Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will listen closely to the advice of the Minister for Finance on that and on the state of the public finances. My predisposition would be that there should be full support for those people who have lost their jobs and who are out of work. What way it is done does not particularly matter except that these people are supported. We will have to look at the public finances as well to see how long that can go on, and the situation there is not looking good. We had some fairly grim figures today, but all the same, I would look on that with regard to the advice we are getting from the Department of Finance as well.

On the question on trade union representation on the task force, I will ensure there is a representative of the workforce on that body. I will not give the Deputy a guarantee on what trade union that representative will come from or whether it will come from ICTU or from somewhere else, but I will ensure someone is there as a representative of the workforce.

I can give the Deputy that pledge today because that is extraordinarily important. Workforce representatives are a very important part of this great industry. They are suffering and their jobs should be protected as far as is possible.

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