Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We both want the same thing. I am concerned the existing definition potentially excludes trade unions. The Minister of State is right that not all trade unions carry out education and research but by far the majority do. It is certainly carried out by the umbrella body, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. My concern is there is an inadvertent potential for trade unions and NGOs to be excluded.

It is very important that people have confidence in the trusted researchers. The notion that, unintentionally or inadvertently, groups like established and respected NGOs and organised trade unions would be excluded is a worry to me. If all of the research is being done by large corporate entities, that is not going to make for balance either. There needs to be that balance. I am very happy to engage with the Minister of State on it. I can hear clearly that the intention is not to exclude people who should be included, and I get that.