Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The trade unions have a responsibility in regard to maverick workers taking action such as was taken yesterday. With the partnership talks and Sustaining Progress, we are building a mechanism to protect ourselves against these eventualities. I saw at first hand yesterday how people were affected by them.

I contacted Iarnród Éireann this morning and officials told me industrial relations machinery is in place regarding the issue in question but that the person concerned took unilateral action. Unilateral action should not be affecting the public as in this case. We cannot seriously market Iarnród Éireann if this kind of maverick carry-on continues, and it is about time we left it behind us.