Before the Adjournment, for the information of Members I wish to make the following statement in relation to industrial action by the usher staff.
In response to my latest offer to the ushers' union, the Union of Professional and Technical Civil Servants, I have been informed today by that union as follows:
A meeting of the Usher members of the Union is scheduled this evening. In view of your decision on this matter I would expect that the industrial action threatened by the Union will now take place. I will formally advise you of the position following this evening's i.e. Friday's meeting.
As the House is probably aware, the majority of the ushers abandoned their posts at 2.45 p.m. today without notifying me or the Clerk of An Dáil. I will be calling a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Tuesday next. I do not propose to say anything further now in the matter in view of the delicate situation with which we have to contend, except to say we hope to be able to carry on as best we can, as the sovereign Parliament of the Irish people.