Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment. Senator Quinn is speaking from the employer’s side and I speak from the trade union side but I agree totally with what he has said. I have seen case after case become complex because documentation was missing or lost. I have seen one side accuse the other, saying it did or did not produce the documents and at the end of cases documents were not available. It is a very reasonable amendment.

It will not substantially change the Bill but it will provide some degree of security for employers who may be reluctant to hand over full documentation at the start of a case. I listened to what the Minister said on the last Stage but I am still on Senator Quinn’s side on this issue. Both ends of the spectrum support this amendment, all that is needed is for the Minister, who is in the middle, to accept it. Senator Barrett, who is also in the middle, supports it too. I do not think it will do any harm to include this amendment.