Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A few weeks ago we had a very good debate about the possibility of avoiding strikes in what we called critical utilities. We did not manage to convince the Minister that something should be done about it and that we should follow the example set in a number of other countries, but we were discussing only water and electricity. I have not yet heard the result of today's vote, but personnel in Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports are deciding whether to engage in strike action. It seems there are other critical utilities and services. We really should give attention to the issue in order to avoid the automatic assumption that a small number of people can close down the nation. Electricity and water are vital but major transport also plays a part.

I also seek a debate on a decision that is likely to come here very shortly on what is termed a statutory code of conduct in the grocery business. This was voted on in the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but although it recommended the measure, no attention was paid to the cost of food for the average household. If a statutory code of conduct is pursued in the grocery trade, there will be two consequences. The price of food will go up, and everybody in the food business will be encouraged to import from outside, as the State cannot exert control on that basis. The debate that occurred in that committee needed to go much further and needed to hear the opinion of the housewives, families and parents of Ireland; these are the people who buy food and serve our citizens. We should do more than just taking into account the voices of those in the production, grocery or agricultural businesses. We should have a wider debate than the narrow discussion that took place in that committee.