Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the previous speaker mentioned, if we were facing a strike on Monday, the tempo of the debate would be different. The context of the Bill, trying to protect critical utilities, is important. This afternoon, I thought back to the 1970s and 1980s, to which Senator Whelan referred, and the power strikes. We were given notice of the time we had power and we prepared for it. Senator Quinn referred to a minimum level of cover to maintain basic services. We can understand in respect of nurses or health care settings but for utilities such as electricity, it is either on or off. Where do we decide the services are essential or basic?

We had a discussion on the Water Services (No.2) Bill about cutting off water. That will not happen but pressure can be reduced and people can have supply restricted. In the case of electricity, it is either on or off. Over the past 20 years, industrial peace has come about through negotiation with unions, the Government and those involved in partnership talks. Many who were not involved in partnership talks and who were in opposition were quite critical of the fact that discussions and agreements were not made public. Agreements were made behind closed doors and the debate was not held in a public forum. Nevertheless, we have had industrial peace following for social partnership, which I acknowledge. It has come at a cost and we are paying the price in terms of coming to grips with the costs in terms of delivering public services in an economically different time when frontline services are suffering because of our economic situation. Public services expanded when it could be afforded but there was no foresight on how the expansion could be sustained.

I commend the Labour Relations Commission. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, asked it to step in last week. It has essential expertise and it has delivered previously in other difficult situations. It is an important mechanism in the industrial relations procedures. The code of practice on dispute procedures includes procedures for essential services. There is a framework for resolution and perhaps the Minister can address the point. It was not utilised in the past number of weeks. We need to recognise, as Senator Quinn said, that his proposal does not take away the right to strike but that certain workers are working in essential areas. If they are going to work in an area that is critical and essential and we go down this road, the issue of pay and employment rights will have to be different to those deemed not to work in essential services.

Concerning critical services and infrastructure, the quality of our infrastructure is important and we must ensure we invest in it.

I am thinking of EirGrid and the ongoing debate around the country. The company's mission is to ensure security of electricity supply into the future. Uisce Éireann will be responsible for ensuring critical infrastructure is maintained and guaranteeing the quality of drinking water. That is important and we are addressing that in legislation before the House to establish Irish Water.

It is important to have this debate without the threat of a strike in the background. As a country seeking investment and selling itself abroad, we need to be make sure we have supplies of critical services such as water and electricity because they are essential to attracting investment.