Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Not much is left to be asked. For the PDFORRA and RACO representatives, has a member of their organisations, that they are aware of in the history of those organisations, ever been charged for making political statements or interfering in the political process?

Mr. Berney made a very important point. As a former president of a trade union myself, it has always been the case that changes implemented in one organisation have the capacity to move to other organisations, which in some way limits the capacity of both RACO and PDFORRA. Reading the heads of Bill, under either head 25 or 26, limiting those organisations' ability to speak out on Government policy could effectively cancel both their annual congresses because they could not speak publicly or, if they were to hold a congress, it would have to be in camera. If I am not mistaken, there is a concern in ICTU that if the legislation were allowed go ahead, it could possibly cause contagion in other parts of the trade union movement. Certainly, the employer side might like to be able to restrict what people could or could not do.

As Mr. King rightly pointed out, we have been told that there is an urgency in completing this prelegislative scrutiny. When departmental officials appeared here previously, I asked what engagement there had been. I was told they had a letter. Are the representatives telling us that there was absolutely no consultation with PDFORRA or RACO on any part of the proposed legislation before it came to the House?