Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The acceptance of this amendment involves the deletion of section 7. The amendment is designed to force an employer, without good reason and consensus, into information and consultation when it would be neither appropriate nor timely. This amendment, combined with those on employee representation, would mean that a trade union representing a tiny minority of employees could force an employer unreasonably into negotiations in circumstances where the amendment would, in addition, deprive the employer of access to the Labour Court on the number or percentage of employees involved. In setting aside the employer's rights, this disproportionate amendment must be rejected as counterproductive to the ethos sought by the Bill and the EU directive. I remind Senators that the purpose of this article of the directive is to promote social dialogue between management and labour.