Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about two matters which arise in the context of his discussions with the social partners. During the last Dáil I asked him a question about the Competition Authority's action against that section of SIPTU which organised Actors' Equity. The Competition Authority pursued unemployed actors on the basis that they were liable to self-assessment, given that they had various employers. SIPTU had to sign an agreement on the steps of the High Court that it would not organise such workers. I produced a Private Members' Bill on the issue and the Taoiseach said he would consider introducing legislation. The issue was to have been put on the top of the agenda of the social partnership talks some time ago. Does the Taoiseach intend to revisit the issue, given it has also arisen with regard to the Competition Authority's action against pharmacists? The authority has argued that pharmacists cannot be collectively represented, even though they have a negotiating licence. I argued that in both cases the Competition Authority was striking down trade union rights.

As the new talks open tomorrow with the social partners, is it not a fact that the targets for social and affordable housing in every one of the agreements so far have not been met? What new initiatives does the Taoiseach expect to reach agreement on with the social partners which will ensure an outcome as projected in terms of the numbers of social and affordable houses delivered?

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