Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I wish to speak on amendments Nos. 54 and 57. The purpose of these two amendments is to avoid circumstances in which one employee, even in a case where there is an employee representative, could refer a matter to the Labour Court and to reserve that option only for the direct model where I agree it is appropriate.

Amendment No. 54 states:

In page 12, subsection (1), lines 39 and 40, to delete "one or more than one employee or his or her representatives (or both)" and substitute the following:

"or the majority of employee representatives, or by written request of at least 15 per cent of employees".

Amendment No. 57 states:

In page 12, subsection (2), line 46, after "dispute." to insert the following:

"Where a system of direct involvement operates only, the referral to the Labour Court may be from one or more than one employee after the internal dispute resolution procedure (if any) usually used by the parties concerned has failed to resolve the dispute.".

The purpose of these amendments is solely to avoid circumstances where one employee could make a reference to the Labour Court and to preserve that option only for the direct model. Both are worthy of consideration.