Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

On amendment No. 14, I welcome the Minister of State's explanation and accept that if one is prescriptive in what one excludes, it could be subsequently interpreted that matters which were not prescribed could be included. On that basis I will withdraw the amendment. However, I am not as favourably disposed towards withdrawing amendment No. 15, which brings clarity to the position. While I am not contradicting the Minister of State, the addition of the amendment would not take away from the Bill but would provide additional clarification. The primary purpose of the amendment is to increase awareness for employers. Anybody who understands English will understand the text and, as such, the proposal would not act as an impediment.

I am hearing from employers, as I am sure the Minister of State is, that the large number of regulatory agreements, for instance, joint labour committees, are adding to the dole queues, even if I cannot quantify the numbers. They are being resisted by employers. As I indicated on Second Stage, I can identify employers who recruited people who would have been happy to work for the proposed rates of pay but decided not to proceed with the recruitment as they believed they would be open to a case being taken against them subsequently. It is unconscionable for the State to act in this way in the current economic climate. Unfortunately, the jobs of everyone in the public service, except politicians, are guaranteed whereas in the private sector nobody's job is guaranteed. We must be conscious of this in the current climate. I am disappointed to hear rhetoric from the Government. When it comes to testing matters in the Seanad and Dáil, the Government does not show any empathy towards the unemployed and is not making any attempt to tackle unemployment.

The amendment could be accepted without having an adverse effect on the legislation. I put the amendment to the Minister of State as a small test to determine whether he has empathy with those who are unemployed and need our support and help.