Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

This morning the reason for the decision to stay away from the Chamber during Leaders' Questions has been revealed. According to all reports, the Government yesterday argued and then failed to reach agreement on what the Taoiseach has called the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation's personal agenda to reduce the basic conditions guaranteed by joint labour committees. This is not a small issue; it affects 200,000 people working in businesses throughout the country. There has been no progress on the issue in the weeks since the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation briefed the media on plans to go well beyond the recommendations in the independent report to Government. Now we have daily briefings and counter-briefings by competing Ministers.

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