Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the spirit of new politics, that matter may be discussed by the Business Committee. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, welcomed the cross-party agreement in the Seanad on 10 November. The Competition (Amendment) Bill was introduced, as Deputy Brendan Howlin knows, by Senators Ivana Bacik and Gerald Nash. When enacted, three categories of workers, namely, voice-over actors, session musicians and freelance journalists, will be exempt from section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 and allowed to engage in collective bargaining.

Additionally, a formal response is set out allowing trade unions to apply for similar exemptions for certain categories of self-employed workers. The Minister was happy to work with Senators Ivana Bacik and Gerald Nash in that regard and they were complimented on the collaborative way in which they had worked with the Government. As the working group established by the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection decide on the issues to be dealt with, the Minister will make a response when it has finalised its work. I am sure enforcement is being stepped up.

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