Since January, the members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, have been taking strike action over six days to try to achieve recognition of that union. These people are members of the single biggest union within their sector. Other unions have members but they do not have as many as NASRA. Its representatives are here today because they are taking part in a day of protest to demand that the Government talk to them and give them the recognition they deserve. The Constitution gives these people the right to join a trade union but it does not mean it can force a Government like Fine Gael - an anti-worker Government - to recognise the rights of these workers.

We call on the Government and the HSE to talk to the only party in this dispute that they have not yet spoken to. There has been dialogue between the Government and the HSE but there has been no dialogue with the men and women here today to protest. I also call on the existing unions for the sector in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to give their sisters and brothers the right to join the union of their choice. In the 21st century, the least that could be granted to Irish workers is the right to join the union of their choice and be recognised for doing so.

A number of Deputies are offering on the same matter so I ask them to stick to the allocated time.

For the second time, while the paramedics pack the Gallery, the Taoiseach is not here. This time he chose not to be here by leaving the minute he heard what the question was about.

That is not true.

No.

The Deputy is not being fair.

It is untrue.

Why does the Taoiseach and Government, particularly the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, continue to play hardball with these workers? Why do they continue to endorse the union-busting tactics of the HSE? Why do they continue to refuse to deal with the Psychiatric Nurses Association, PNA, and NASRA? What are they scared of when it comes to workers being allowed to be represented by the union of their choice? It is a very serious position for every trade unionist in the country when the State is effectively trying to dictate to workers which unions they can be part of and which unions they cannot join. It is the refrain we are hearing. Those people will be outside today at 1 p.m. and their banners will state "Our union, our choice". The Government should deal with these people instead of forcing them to come back here again and again.

I also raise the matter of the ongoing one-day strikes by ambulance personnel. I understand there may be another one-day strike by the end of May. As all of us as politicians know, this dispute seriously affects the provision of front-line emergency services. It is unprecedented and unwarranted. These people simply want to establish a branch of the PNA and they have been asking for it for nine years. They want to be represented by the PNA and not by the union that is acceptable to the HSE. As other Members noted, these people are demonstrating in Dublin today but they do not want to be here. We met them this morning and they have come from all parts of the country, including Donegal. They want to be on duty, providing essential services. They want to do what they are good at. I ask the Minister to use his good offices to ensure their requests can be considered.

It is vital that the Minister meet the ambulance crews. It is true that they do not want to be here and would prefer to be at work. They want to serve the people of the country. Will the Minister correct the record of the House as he indicated in reply to a parliamentary question that he had not received correspondence from a number of Members requesting that he meet members of the NASRA organisation? That is incorrect and he received such correspondence from Deputy Joan Collins, which was signed by me, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher and other Members.

It is an absolute disgrace that we must again take to our feet because of this very simple demand. There are many burning issues across the State and this should not be one of them. This is about a group of almost 500 workers who are asking for the right to be heard. This is not a dispute about pay or conditions; it is about the simple right to be heard. Sinn Féin has published legislation on this matter. The Minister knows as well as I do the work done by these individuals, the seriousness with which they do their duties and the effect it can have when, unfortunately, they cannot save a life. I have witnessed that at first hand. They are diligent and professional in their job. This is about giving these people the right to be heard and to choose the trade union that wants to represent them in negotiations with the HSE. Do not make them come to the Dáil again and force them to strike for a day. Do not force the issue further. The Minister should stand up and do the right thing by stating very clearly that those paramedics who are valued by all of us when we need them will be valued in the form of allowing them to decide which union should represent them in negotiations with their employer.

I am sure the Ceann Comhairle will accept that the Taoiseach did not scarper away when Deputy Paul Murphy or Deputy Bríd Smith raised a question. He left to travel to Paris to attend a very important seminar on online hate speech after the terrorist attack in New Zealand which killed 51 people, as has been well documented.

I am sure he could have waited two minutes.

Presuming Deputy Paul Murphy is against hate speech, I am sure he will apologise for the slur on the Taoiseach.

To respond to Deputy Pringle, I certainly did receive a letter from Deputy Joan Collins, so if a written parliamentary question stated otherwise, I will write to the Ceann Comhairle about the matter. I received directly into my hand a letter from Deputy Collins and a number of other Deputies, including Deputy Pringle, about this matter, and I am absolutely happy to acknowledge that. I understand there are many different views on this matter within the ambulance service, among paramedics working in the ambulance service and within the trade union movement. I had asked my Department to engage with the HSE to try to find a way forward on this. I would like a way forward to be found. I will re-engage with my Department and have discussions with the HSE about this matter today.