Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom an Bille os ár gcomhair um thráthnóna a mholadh. Tá buíochas ag dul do Theachta David Cullinane as ucht é a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. Iarraim tacaíocht ó achan Teachta don Bhille os ár gcómhair, go háirithe Teachtaí Fhianna Fáil agus Fine Gael. This is an important Bill and I hope Teachtaí will see that it strengthens the rights of workers by allowing trade unions access to their members in the workplace in respect of official union business. The current voluntary system has worked for some but it has failed many others. We all know there are employers who engage in campaigns of bullying, harassment and intimidation of workers engaged with union activity, and that must be ended.

We believe in the rights of workers to organise, join a union and be represented by a union. In a topical issue, Bus Éireann management has sought to unilaterally cut overtime and Sunday rates, as well as stopping pay increments for employees. In another topical issue, we have seen the shocking treatment of employees at Tesco, with the company refusing to engage with unions and trying to unilaterally cut the pay of their longest-serving workers. We have seen this two-tier race to the bottom culture many times, which particularly affects some of the larger employers. A successful employment rights infrastructure operates on the basis of equality between workers and employers. That is what is needed and this Bill will assist that process.

I am surprised Fianna Fáil is not supporting the Bill and I did not know that until I came here this evening. Surely the newly minted progressive radical Fianna Fáil of "Comrade" Martin and "Brother" Collins would have been delighted with a Bill to permit the basic and modest right of workers to access unions. Sin revolution Fianna Fáil style.

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