Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

As the Taoiseach advised in his reply, the NCPP, in conjunction with IBEC and ICTU, has developed a revised partnership training programme that is quite specifically targeted at unionised private sector organisations that wish to develop a partnership approach to change and to improve performances. Has the Taoiseach asked the centre to address the issue of the growing number of non-unionised workplaces? Does he agree it would be appropriate to examine this issue, particularly in the context of partnership, given that the right to trade union recognition, membership and representation is critical? Does it not suggest itself to the Taoiseach that it is an issue for the centre to address? In the final analysis, it is perhaps incumbent on this House to consider legislation to make it a requirement of workplaces to recognise the right of employees to join and participate within a trade union organisation.

My second question relates to the fourth periodic report of the National Social and Economic Development Office on the work of the National Economic and Social Forum. This report updates the position contained in a number of its previous reports, including that covering the equality of access to hospital care. As spokesman on health and children, this is an area of particular concern to me. Does the Taoiseach agree with the NESF in its statement that what is now required is a fundamental examination of the public-private mix in hospitals and that it is this mix and the piggybacking by the private sector on the public hospitals' acute services provision which has created what is tantamount to a two-tier system in acute hospital services? The report points up the urgent need to address this imbalance. This brings in the consultants' contracts and all the other issues the Government must address.

See this speech in context