The Dail held a special debate on the Irish Ferries dispute this evening, the first since the 2001 Foot & Mouth crisis. All members of the parliament in the chamber were given the option to speak on the issue.
Moving the motion, Opposition employment spokesman Phil Hogan accused Irish Ferries of "dickensian" exploitation of its workers.
The Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said the Government was committed to protecting the State's employment law and standards.
Deputising for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during Leaders' Questions, Mr Cowen explained: "We don't want to revive a low-wage economy in this country."
"We don't want to foster a social division by having jobs transformed from decent employment for Irish citizens to low-paid positions targeted at migrant workers."
"We have invested hugely in good employment standards and we're not prepared to see it replaced by short-sighted and exploitative decisions."
"As far as this Government is concerned, we are going to do all we can to have his matter resolved on the basis that the sides come together."
"It may still be possible to resolve the issue but the company's tactics have not helped."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the firm was being very badly led and called on the Taoiseach to intervene with managing director Eamon Rothwell.
"It is very incumbent on the Taoiseach to intervene at the highest level and give them that message face-to-face," he claimed.
Mr Kenny said his office was inundated with firms and customers concerned at the loss of 25 per cent of the country's freight capacity.
"The Government should redouble its efforts here and if necessary the Taoiseach should request that the head of management of Irish Ferries call to his office to be given the message face-to-face. "We do not want anything to happen that will damage the economy of this country."
Mr Cowen insisted that the Taoiseach had conveyed that message from the start of the dispute.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte claimed that social partnership was being jettisoned in the affair and Sinn Fein's Dail leader Caoimhghin O Caolain accused management of tearing up established industrial relations practices.