AN intervention by the Government in the French transport strike might only make matters worse, the leader of the Seanad, Mr Maurice Manning, warned in the House yesterday.
Reacting to concern voiced on the Government and Opposition sides of the House about the impact on Irish hauliers of the ongoing dispute, he said it was a particularly nasty and bitter internal French dispute, and the French authorities had carried on their business disgracefully.
Mr Willie Farrell (FF) urged the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take an active role with his French opposite number to try to get innocent people out of what was an industrial mess.
Mr Pat Magner (Lab) said that the French opted in and out of the EU as it suited them. The Treaty of Rome was being flouted in regard to the free movement of goods.