Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I was not involved in the Bill on Committee Stage either. I am not a member of the relevant committee. It is very unfortunate that what is otherwise a very good and progressive Bill is being marred by the amendment the Minister has tabled. I fully support the amendment to the amendment tabled by Deputy Farrell.

This is about retrospective application. There are many examples of schemes that are introduced where there is cut-off point whereby people are in the system and have started proceedings or a case or they have not. That is fair enough. The door has to close at a certain point. The fact the Minister will not allow people who are already before the Workplace Relations Commission or the courts to be included in the provisions is fundamentally unjust. What is the Minister saying to these people? He is telling them to cease their proceedings and go back to square one. The implications of that are enormous, timewise and for costs. Without doubt, these people are being denied the justice to which they should be entitled. We have to take their concerns and rights into consideration and I do not believe the Minister is doing so. I urge him to accept the amendments tabled by Deputy Farrell to protect, and ensure the rights of, those people already in the system. It is a reasonable request. The Bill would be stronger for it.

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