Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Yesterday, I raised the issue of the situation in France and I want to compare it to the situation here during the Irish Ferries dispute and the demonstrations three months ago. What happened in France yesterday was a sense of outrage among ordinary people that young workers would be treated in such a cavalier fashion. It is important to recognise that Irish management, unions and Government have ensured genuine protection is in place. It is worthwhile for all sides of the argument to recognise that.

This Bill copper-fastens the type of agreement in which management and unions are required to speak to and engage with each other and sort out their business. That is important because people are not allowed the dubious pleasure of meeting with their own group, stating what that group wants to hear and having their polarised position reinforced. They must engage.

I ask the Minister of State to bring the following important point to the attention of every group he speaks with, including business and union representatives and members of Government. This Bill is an attempt to balance and reflect the responsibilities we have to all groups. If anything else must be done in this area, such as with the Irish Ferries dispute, we must do it. We do not want anyone to run riot through it.

I heard some of my trade union colleagues on the radio this morning stating fair play to the French because they were not taking it lying down. However, what happened in France cannot happen here because on a partnership basis between business, labour and Government, we put in place protections for workers and seek to achieve a fair balance. I am not happy with the outcome because I believe it favours employers and business. My colleague, Senator Quinn, takes an opposite view and perhaps that is good because it is how we balance our arguments and progress. This Bill is part of the process to make those taking polarised positions engage with each other and force people to find resolutions through domestic redress and remedies, sharing information and problems and finding joint solutions.

I congratulate the Minister of State and his officials for the difficult work done. I am aware of the work done by people in ICTU and of the arguments with the Department over the telephone and across tables. It is work well done. People from other countries such as New Zealand wonder how the outcome of social partnership is achieved. This Bill is part of how it is done. It not easy and I am aware the Minister of State's advisers and officials spent long nights and had long arguments on these issues. Nobody is either completely happy or unhappy. As parliamentarians we believe it is progress.