Mr. Gerry Light:

We deal with a diverse spread of employment sectors, from the big international players down to the smaller independent traders. It is always difficult to get to the bottom line. The big players constantly appear, right up to the Labour Court, and refuse to give any information regarding their profitability. An honest approach is probably more likely from the smaller operators who will sit down in a room, open books and show the staff. From that point forward, both the owner and the workers can gauge what is in the best interests of that business going forward. That is the way it should work. Deputy O'Reilly spoke about the value of having that access and the statutory right to collectively bargain. The big fear among many employers, and it is certainly the perception that is put out, is that if unions have the right to collectively bargain, it will end with employers having to pay excessive wage costs and ultimately go to the wall. That is not the case.

The problem with declaring profitability and establishing the level of profitability is always a challenge to the trade union movement and it is certainly an invaluable piece of information to allow us and our members to make the right decision for everybody concerned with any particular enterprise.