The Government lost a Dáil vote on occupational pensions for community employment supervisors by a substantial margin last week. I repeat the call that was made in the motion that was agreed by the House for the Minister to meet the unions as a matter of urgency so that strike action can be averted. Approximately 40 of the 1,200 community employment supervisors in this country are due to retire this year. This matter has been well discussed in the Dáil. The last thing we want is for these supervisors to take strike action because that would mean the 25,000 workers on the scheme would not have anyone to manage them. I appeal to the Minister to meet them as a matter of urgency.

Of course I agree entirely with the Deputy that we should do all we can to avert any form of industrial action. We have a difficulty with this matter for the same reasons that applied to Deputy Butler's party in government when this ruling was made. It was outlined in the Dáil last week that it would cost €180 million to deal with everybody who could be affected by what is proposed. When this is taken with the knock-on costs across the entire State of dealing with those who provide the service on behalf of the State but do not work for the State, it is clear that the overall cost would be gigantic. I am open to any ideas or engagement regarding how we can deal with this matter without creating a huge contingent cost and difficulty for this and any future Government.

The Government created the issue.