Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is no need to amend section 7 along the lines proposed in the amendment. The purpose of the amendment is to allow an employer to sign up to an existing REA as a new party. Section 8 already provides a mechanism by which an REA can be varied in its application to any worker to whom it might apply. The variation provisions under that section will allow for an application by a new employer to become a party to an existing REA, subject to one of the existing parties to the agreement making the application to the courts. An existing party would have to make the application to the court.