Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

I am not quite sure whether the Minister said that this can happen with his consent — in other words, that PDFORRA can be affiliated to ICTU. If there is a will to do something, a legislative way can be found to do it. What is wrong with a situation, as sought by PDFORRA, whereby there would be no agenda for industrial action or to subvert the State in any way, but representatives of PDFORRA could take part with ICTU on an information basis? In that way they would be better informed for their members and could make a better input for them. This would be against the background of being prohibited from doing anything that would subvert the State or involve PDFORRA members in industrial action. We need to move with the times here and I put it to the Minister that it is not an unreasonable request to be allowed affiliation in that context. If the Minister really wants it, a way can be found to do it. The Minister will not meet any obstacles from the Labour Party in that regard.

See this speech in context