Ms Caitriona Mason:

We have no policy objection to including a specific exemption. We have engaged extensively with counsel on this issue. Following the last meeting of this committee we re-engaged with them on it. They are firmly of the view that they have not captured it under prohibited conduct but they have assured us that before the Bill is finalised they will do a final sweep just to ensure that any and all doubt is removed in relation to that issue. There is no policy intention to capture industrial action.