Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

In the atmosphere of good wishes, which I share, I will make a comment on No. 13 on today's Order of Business. I will not be conflictual about it. That speaks of interim economic partnership agreements with three African countries. The report came from the committee, which was not unanimous yesterday. When a committee is not unanimous it will be my intention in the forthcoming session to take all these agreements and debate them in the plenary session, as well as in committee. In this case one country had signed the agreement and the other two had neither signed nor ratified it. That is out of the spirit of a new dialogue which we need in response to relationships with developing countries.

My question specifically relates to two pieces of legislation. The compliance with labour law legislation is listed in section D of the outgoing list for Second Stage but when will it be taken? The final communiqué from the social partners in September 2008 spoke of an agreed piece of legislation relating to amendment of competition legislation to take account of the position of people such as the Musicians Union of Ireland and so forth. When will that legislation be available?

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