Mr. Owen Reidy:

If it is done in the minimalist way articulated by Ms McElwee, it will not be good. There is no legislation on the Irish Statue Book that vindicates Article 4 of the directive. There is no legislation that allows workers to exercise the right to collective bargaining. There is no legislation that requires the State to promote collective bargaining. There is no legislation that adequately protects workplace representatives engaging in collective bargaining. We cannot say our system is robust. Our system is weak and there is an imbalance in it. There is an impediment for workers in accessing collective bargaining. There is no such impediment for employers in accessing representation. That is what the directive needs to adjust. If it does not do that, it will be another failed workers' rights directive overseen by the Irish State, and we must not let that happen.