Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As we approach the first anniversary of the Government and having heard much about new politics, legislative activity has ground to a slow crawl in the Houses. One Private Members' Bill has, however, passed through one House in the past 12 months, namely, the Competition (Amendment) Bill, which aims to give collective bargaining rights to freelance workers. It was championed in the Seanad by Senators Ivana Bacik and Ged Nash and supported by the Minister, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor. It passed all Stages in the Seanad last November and there was cross-party support on Second Stage in this House when the legislation was brought forward by the Labour Party during Private Members' time. We were told that because it had all-party support, it would speedily pass through Committee Stage. Will the Minister tell us when it will take place? At the reform committee I raised the use of a device by the Government for Bills such as this - it also happened in the case of Deputy Jim O'Callaghan's Bill - whereby a money message was required. Is it a device to frustrate Bills? When will the money message be given for the Bill and when will it be allowed to proceed?

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