Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009
383 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to correspondence from a union (details supplied) seeking a resolution to the industrial relations dispute between the union and a bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34547/09]
View answer384 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if he or the Government appointed directors will intervene in a dispute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34549/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
I responded directly to the correspondence in question on 30 September 2009. I do not accept that Government support of an institution provides any argument in favour of any particular group. In fact, taxpayers will naturally look to bank employees to understand and respond to the financial situation in which these institutions find themselves. Jobs in the financial sector are now being protected by enormous taxpayer support and while ordinary financial sector workers are not to blame for this situation, they are getting more assistance than many other workers in other sectors. While I will not be participating in the negotiation process in relation to this dispute, either directly or by seeking to influence directors, and am not giving an opinion on the merits of this particular case, I feel this general background must be borne in mind by financial sector employees generally.
