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

We are not asking that parents be allowed in to test centres to use the facilities. We are asking that instructors be allowed in. That is the issue here. The Minister of State indicated this is an operational matter for the RSA. The drivers have chosen to join a union. Whatever about wanting to talk to the RSA, the union wants to talk to the Minister of State. It has written to her on more than one occasion and has not received anything back. The Minister of State said that she wants to hear my concerns. She should cut out the middleman and listens to the instructors' concerns directly. She should write back to them and do the decent thing by arranging to have a discussion with the instructors and the union of their choice. Why will she not agree to do that? The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is not replying in this debate but does the Green Party support this position of locking out a union and refusing to even talk to it? How can the Minister stand over that position?

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