Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That underlines the need for us to get the minimum wage directive adopted as soon as possible to clear up issues around a multi-union environment. The Minister of State accepted my bona fides on this. The intention is not to do anything other than be helpful. The concern is not addressed in the legislation.

I understand the point the Minister of State makes that if there are ten workers and nine of them are in nine separate unions, it could get messy. In truth, that does not happen. People are not stupid. They join the best vehicle to represent them. In an organisation with 100 people in one union, the 101st person will not go off to a union on their own. It rarely happens. For the most part, people understand the value of collective action and representation and conduct their business like that, so the likelihood is they would be part of the trade union. I understand what the Minister of State is saying about potential unintended consequences but I do not see those.

On the basis that we have debated this, I do not think either of us will change our mind but my position on it stands.

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