Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I indicated in my first reply that no proposals exist in the Government's legislative programme that would require such recognition by an employer of a trade union or to compel employers to engage in collective bargaining. As the Deputy is aware, this is a highly contentious issue and many companies that provide extraordinarily good employment do not recognise unions. This issue will not be decided by legislative fiat by the Government. The model that has been used in the past has been that where there is agreement between the two sides to develop proposals, they have been developed and have been enshrined into conventions and law but we have operated a voluntary system. The programme for Government has signalled that where there are flaws within the system that have been exposed by recent cases, the Government will move to correct them but again, this will be within a model of meeting and hearing the views of both sides.

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