Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to be party to legislation that would curtail in some way the rights of access to the Labour Court or the WRC. A more detailed explanation for why those particular adjudicative bodies, which are central to the industrial relations machinery of the State, are concerned might help to allay our fears. My colleague is right that there obviously has been significant agitation by IBEC on behalf of employers. I see nothing wrong with that - it is the cut and thrust of participative legislation - as long as it admits what it is doing. It has to do that now. Workers' representatives have been in contact with us and they are very keen about this. This element of the legislation is critical in their view. We have a Hobson's choice here. The Minister and an arm of the industrial relations machinery of the State are saying one thing and workers' representatives, who are at the coalface, are saying it is absolutely critical. When will we get to the final point? That is the critical thing. We are at the last staging post now in terms of legislative intervention. I hope this can be clarified. The debate may well have to be adjourned until tomorrow so we can get further clarification so we know exactly what the import of the deletion would be. It is something that is causing us concern.

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