John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It would not be the first time. I am unsure how wise it is to pass legislation that potentially will have an impact on, for example, a company from the United States. If such a company did not recognise a union - I acknowledge that mandatory union recognition is not being proposed - it certainly would allow a union to drag a company to the Labour Court. This is a position that has not existed since the Industrial Relations Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court back in 2007. The general feeling from people who deal with labour law is this probably is not necessary and that the existing laws are pretty robust when it comes to employer-employee relations and in negotiations in the matrix that is there already. Personally, I do not believe this is the right time for such legislation. When it comes to something like this, obviously the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland has been involved in negotiations and has an opinion. It believes - it is not alone in this belief - that in respect of dealing with the Government on this, the process has been good. Did IDA Ireland give an opinion on the timing of this legislation? Does it have an opinion with regard to legislation like this and on this legislation specifically, as well as on its timing? As we have just ended the double Irish, we do not really know what will happen. The last thing we should be doing is passing more legislation that could put a doubt in the mind of any investor from the United States about coming to Ireland. It is not rocket science. I believe the timing is bad and that we should hold off until this economy recovers to the point where consideration can be given to such legislation.