THE Minister for Finance said the Government wanted to resolve the health care workers' strike.
Mr Quinn said the Government wanted to enter into negotiations to get into the process which was clearly outlined in the PCW. "All we ask of any social partners is that they observe the terms of the agreement they signed up to. We want to see the dispute resolved."
The matter was raised on the Order of Business by the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who asked what the Government was doing about the rampant chaos in the health services.
He said it now seemed very likely that the radiographers were going to join the health care workers in their work stoppage. "The position is now extremely serious for people with disabilities."
Dr Jim McDaid (FF, Donegal North East) said the medical laboratory technicians were balloting next week. The result of that ballot could put the whole health services in chaos.
Ms Liz O'Donnell, the Progressive Democrats' spokeswoman on health, said it was unconscionable that stroke patients and others were now going into a second week without essential therapeutic services.
Mr Quinn said negotiations had taken place to ensure that an adequate level of emergency cover was provided during the dispute.
I want to allay any fear that might be there that health workers are being irresponsible regarding their overall duties." Reference to stroke victims could be misconstrued, he said. Mr Ahern should know better than to refer to rampant chaos in the health services.
The PCW was not being observed in relation to the industrial peace clause, Mr Quinn said.
The deputy leader of Fianna Fail, Ms Mary O'Rourke, was accused of "cheap shots" by the Government benches when she said there had to be respect for disabled children in the context of the dispute.
Mr Ivor Callely (FF, Dublin Central) said the Minister had accused the health care workers of being greedy.
Mr Quinn denied this and said he had not singled out health care workers.
"What I said was that the country had prospects for sustained economic growth, but this could be put at risk if people got greedy. I did not accuse individual health care workers of being greedy. I was referring to all of us.