Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When I read the motion for the first time I was somewhat bemused and I realised I had not read anything like it for many years; nevertheless I feel I have an authority to speak to the motion because my guess is that I am one of the few paid-up members of a trade union in this group. I share some of the sentiments - although certainly not the rhetoric - of my colleague, Deputy Higgins. I share his disillusionment with the trade union movement as a paid-up member of a union, and I pay approximately €40 per month into the union. I cannot say it has done me any great favours or service in the time and any pension I am getting as a result of employment is diminishing by the day and my union certainly does not seem to be doing very much about it or serving me well.

I congratulate Deputy Higgins as he seems to have done something which has been difficult for our group recently by uniting the left in the Technical Group behind a motion-----

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