John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 69 proposes that provision be made to ensure that all citizens have the right to form and be represented by trade unions and that recognition of trade unions be mandatory. In the current Bill, trade unions are provided for in that they are entitled to represent employees under the adjudication process being established. However, the effect of the proposed amendment would be to ensure that trade union members could engage in collective bargaining and industrial action, which is beyond the scope of the current Bill. This amendment is not relevant to the provisions of the Bill as read a Second Time and, therefore, must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order No. 131(1).