Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat. Tá brón orm go raibh mé beagáinín déanach. Bhí Bille eile agam thuas sa Dáil.

I suppose the Minister of State will be aware and sympathetic that one of the great problems for workers is enforcement and compliance. It has been one of the massive difficulties until now, even during the period of this Government. All the best legislation in the world is not worth a penny candle if it is not enforced and if we do not have compliance from employers.

In the natural scheme of things, in the operation of a workplace, there are unions to make sure workers' rights are upheld. My amendments, Nos. 19 to 21, inclusive, simply seek to allow that natural representation to exist. The amendments provide for access to the workplace for designated union officials. They also provide for a right of employees to be represented by a trade union official in their place of work and to ensure compliance by employers. Prior to the McGowan judgment, these entitlements were part and parcel of the REA framework. As such, the amendments are not a revolutionary addition at all. It is just an effort to ensure that the natural relationship between worker, union and employer exists and that we have compliance.

If we do not have compliance, our own experience as public representatives tells us that there is a breakdown in the relationship between employer and employee; and massive industrial relations problems develop, which is not good for employers, for completion of contracts or for the employee who has to stand on a picket line to enforce his or her rights. I appeal for the Minister of State to accept these very logical amendments, Nos. 19 to 21, inclusive.