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

An individual in a legal dispute has the right to select his or her solicitor and how that solicitor represents him or her, given that the solicitor is moreau faitwith the legal landscape than the individual and would be better able and skilled to represent that individual. The same logic applies to a worker who is seeking to have a trade union official represent him or her in a workplace dispute, as the individual may not be au faitwith the landscape as regards his or her rights. My amendment makes representation mandatory in that regard.

It is a question of balancing the rights of employers and employees. When both are on an even footing, there is the most respect between them. It is where groups are on uneven footing that there are the most industrial relations battles. This is why we are tabling this amendment. I imagine that the Minister of State and I will not have a meeting of minds on it, but I will press it anyway.