Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join Senator O'Toole in particular in raising the issue of industrial relations. It is time that we engaged with the public sector unions in a meaningful way. Is it the Government's policy and intention to force the unions to take industrial action and to suspend and sack members who do not perform their duty? Does the Government want chaos, mass protests, lack of action, no work and a complete malaise in the public sector? Is that what we want? If it is not, then the Government is going about things in the wrong way. The Government is going to follow the Ronald Reagan model and that is a recipe for disaster. It is imperative that we have a debate on industrial relations in this House as a matter of urgency.

I also join Senator O'Reilly's call for a debate on tourism. A total of 6.9 million tourists came to this country last year, the lowest level since 2005. The Government has pursued a failed policy on the aviation travel tax. Senator Boyle will be aware that a number of airlines have reduced their services in Cork Airport, thereby affecting people in the south and south west, the tourism capital of Ireland. We need the tourism industry. Last year was a catastrophic year and so far we have seen no blueprint or plan from Government. I do not know where the Greens stand on the aviation travel tax-----