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

Ms McElwee's submission states that little or no legislative change is required. That is at odds with what ICTU says. As regards the aspiration for union density, IBEC clearly represents a sector that is very heavily organised. It is not a trade union in the strictest sense of the word but it is a representative body, so its members are in the happy position of already being convinced of the benefits and the merits of collective action, as it were. Given the fact that they are already there and that they have already accepted that there is strength in numbers, does Ms McElwee see any conflict with what Mr. Reidy has outlined as regards the aspiration to increase trade union density and that it would be done, as was outlined, in a measured way but also in a progressive way? Mr. Reidy says legislative protection is required and, to put my cards on the table, I agree. I think we should legislate for the right to organise. That is really important. To build up that density is incredibly important. In Ms McElwee's submission, however, she says that the legislative changes are not required. What does she say to what Mr. Reidy has put forward?

In the submission it states legislative changes are not required. What does Ms McElwee say to Mr. Reidy?