Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the legislation.

It has resulted from, and is a vindication of, social partnership. Over a 60 year period we have developed a sophisticated labour relations machinery and culture which was well described earlier by the Minister of State.

There are persistent problems and a degree of reluctance with regard to recognition of trade unions and this legislation is a means of dealing with the problem. It mainly occurs in small firms but there is a number of large firms which do not recognise trade unions for one reason or another. However, many of them have a sophisticated parallel type of machinery. It is important to have dispute resolution mechanisms which avoid the need for strikes. Furthermore, in the case of small firms, there is a great danger of closure and job losses if the climate becomes embittered. This legislation is a welcome element of the implementation of Sustaining Progress. It is a credit to partnership.

I wish to take this opportunity to comment on industrial relations in general. Under the partnership process industrial relations have been pretty good. The number of days of work lost is relatively small. However, there are still some problems. I regret, for example, the dispute that is taking place at present in Irish Ferries, where there appears to be a stand-off between management and the National Union of Seamen. Another trade union is also involved. There is always a difficulty when there is more than one trade union and they do not see eye to eye. If their action is not co-ordinated, it is difficult for the employer to deal with it without the danger of a type of salami exercise developing.

There is also a temptation on the part of a minority section of the trade union movement to import a more confrontational culture and practice from across the water. We have seen that in the past and, to a degree, in the present in some of our public transport undertakings. I am not referring to the main trade unions.

In most instances there is, or should be, a common interest in best conditions for employees and an agreed method for solving disputes and moving forward together. That need not be incompatible with good pay and conditions. The ESB is an obvious example. We must keep working at improving industrial relations. The old adage, that if we do not hang together, we will hang separately, applies even more in a small country such as this than in some of our larger neighbours.