Ní dóigh liom go mbeidh na daoine atá ag obair sa chomhlacht atá luaite againn róshásta leis an bhfreagra a thug an Taoiseach dúinn. The issue for Dunnes Stores workers is not just about pay. It is also about their working conditions and the hours available to them in any given week. It is about being able to build a life for themselves and their families in which they can plan a future. If one does not know from week to week whether one will have five, ten or 25 hours of work, one cannot plan a life, run a household or organise a family.

Does the Taoiseach think it is acceptable, in this day and age, that a company with the reputation and standing that Dunnes Stores undoubtedly has is right in refusing to sit down with Mandate? Does he think that his Government has done enough to date to address this issue, which is critical to the Irish people. The public look to Dunnes Stores as our major national retailer. It is not setting a very good example for other employers in the retail sector if this is how Dunnes Stores is going to behave.

I put it to the Taoiseach that it is not sufficient to pass the buck to the Minister of State, Deputy Nash. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, has a role to play in this matter as well. I call on the Taoiseach to ensure that he engages with the management of Dunnes Stores as a matter of urgency. This zero-hour situation should be rectified so that people do not go on strike on 2 April losing the very small money that they can ill afford to lose.

It is anti-worker.

Tá sé fíor le rá gur chóir go mbeadh faisnéis soiléir ag chuile oibrí atá ag obair leis an gcomhlacht seo. Níl sé sásúil nach bhfuil an t-eolas sin le fáil acu. Níl sé mar chumas ag an Rialtas brú a chur ar chomhlacht ar bith agus ordú dóibh í a chur ar fáil. Aontaím leis an Teachta maidir leis seo. Tá sé seo déanta ag comhlachtaí eile ar nós an ceann a luaigh an Teachta le fada. Tá faisnéis soiléir tugtha acu siúd dá n-oibrithe. Ba chóir go mbeadh an rud céanna le fáil ag na hoibrithe atá ag obair in Dunnes Stores. Níl an Rialtas ag cur brú ar an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Nash. Tá dualgas dlíthiúil agus bunreachtúil aige ón Rialtas agus is faoi chúram an Aire Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta, an Teachta Bruton, an rud seo chomh maith. Tá an tAire Stáit ag obair go dian maidir le ceist na n-oibrithe nach bhfuil ach pá íseal acu, coimisiún a bhunú agus na conarthaí gearrthéarmacha atá ann faoi láthair. Sin atá i gceist agus sin an dualgas bunreachtúil agus dualgas rialtais atá ann. Tiocfaidh an tAire Stáit chuig an Rialtas nuair a bheidh an tuarscáil ar fáil agus nuair a bheith moltaí le cur os comhair an Rialtais aige.

Tá súil agam nach dtiocfaidh an stailc seo os ár gcomhair. Ba chóir go mbeadh an comhlacht agus na hoibrithe in ann an fhadhb seo a réiteach. Tá sé réitithe ag na comhlachtaí eile. Tá faisnéis soiléir ag na hoibrithe sna comhlachtaí eile, ina measc sonraí ar an méid uaireanta cloig a bheidh orthu obair i ngach seachtain agus mar sin de. Ba chóir go mbeadh an t-eolas sin ar fáil. Tá an Teachta ceart sa mhéad ina bhfuil á rá aige. Ba chóir go mbeadh na mná seo in ann a rá lena gclanna na laethanta agus na huaireanta sa lá a bheidh siad ag obair.