On the Money Resolution, I wish to make three basic observations of importance. The first is, and it is one that the country and the Members of this House should carefully note, that as we authorise the expenditure of public money for the purposes of this Bill, we have demonstrated successfully something that is very precious to this country, that is, that a democratic Parliament faced with a situation of great complexity, great delicacy, in respect of which deep feelings are held, has been able to handle that situation more effectively than any other form of government that exists. Let there be an end for all time hereafter to the talk about the talking shop whose proceedings produce futility. Only a freely-elected parliament could handle the situation we have handled in the course of the past 24 hours.
The second point I want to make is this, and I still do not despair of carrying conviction to my colleagues in the Labour Party: we have abridged, or will, if this Bill passes, the right to strike. I hold, in any case, that in a democracy there is now a fourth estate, that is, free trade unionism of our people. I cherish the right of organised labour to strike as sincerely as I cherish the right of habeas corpus but I believe we are entitled temporarily to suspend either if the safety of the State and the community requires it. It is wrong to say, and it is a mistake for Labour Deputies to say, that an Irish Parliament has embarked upon a course designed to deprive the workers of this country of their fundamental riaht to strike. If that were true, this would not be a democratic Parliament and it is just as much in the interests of the Labour Party to carry conviction to the minds of our people as a whole that this is the citadel of their rights, this Chamber is the place where the fundamental rights of the humblest citizen in the State will be defended as it is in the interests of all to recognise it.
I do not believe the Labour Party themselves believe that this Parliament is putting in the thin end of the wedge to deprive the workingmen of this country of their fundamental right to strike. If I believed it, I would never have voted for this Bill.