Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy raised a couple of points. As she knows from the previous times this matter was raised, progressing the Bill is a matter for her. The Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment met in public session in January to conduct detailed scrutiny of the Bill. Following that meeting, our Department issued a detailed brief to the committee, as requested, and nothing further has come from the committee.

We did not commit to producing an alternative at the meeting. I am sure the minutes and records of the meeting will show that. We said that we would look into the matter and engage with the Department of Social Protection, as laid out by the workers in that engagement.

Our concerns with the Bill are clear and have been stated actively. The trade union movement is not looking for this Bill. Bringing in retired people to negotiate terms is not something that is done in any other jurisdiction and is not something that we are prepared to support. That is the fact of the matter.

It is appropriate for the Department of Social Protection, as per the conversation at the meeting, to be asked for its opinion. Can the Deputy tell me whether the requested meeting has taken place or the representatives have engaged to arrange such a meeting?

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