Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It is not true. The Deputy's position is wrong, and factually incorrect. Do we not inhabit a State in which workers enjoy free collective bargaining, social partnership arrangements, a very active and well funded Health and Safety Authority and a solid corpus of equality legislation supported by a dedicated Equality Authority and Equality Tribunal? With regard to trades unions, not only do they have legal protection and the right to organise and carry on their business but they are also an integral part of long established and very successful social partnership arrangements. Can all of these developments have missed the attention of our colleagues who proposed the Opposition motion? Similar considerations apply to the citing of Articles 1 to 10 of the European Social Charter, promulgated by the Council of Europe. I will cite these provisions briefly so Deputies can appreciate their range and content. I think the House will find that they have a familiar ring to them: Article 1, the right to work; Article 2, the right to just conditions of work; Article 3, the right to safe and healthy working conditions——

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