asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that a contributory cause of the delay in the formation of purely Irish trade unions is considered by many trade unionists to be due to the lack of a pronouncement by the Government of their policy in the matter; and, if so, if he will state (i) whether the Government have considered Appendix I, Section 3 (paragraphs 583 and 584) of the Report of the Commission on Vocational Organisation; (ii) whether it is intended to introduce proposals for legislation based on the recommendations contained in the penultimate paragraph of this appendix; and (iii), if so, if he will give some idea of the form or extent of the financial assistance which the Government is prepared to give in the case of members of existing trade unions with headquarters outside the Republic who are desirous of transferring to newly-constituted unions with headquarters within our jurisdiction so as to enable them (a) to pay benefits on the same scale as that being paid by the existent unions, and (b) to recoup themselves against other consequential financial losses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Trade Unions.
I cannot accept the implication in the first part of the Deputy's question, nor do I feel that intervention by the Government would help to secure a satisfactory solution of the problem to which the Deputy refers.
Would the Minister not agree that, particularly consequent on recent legislation affecting our external relations, there is an obligation on the Government to have a policy, or if not to develop a policy, on these matters affecting tens of thousands of Irish citizens? Would he not agree that entailed in such a policy is the question of financial obligation on the part of the Government, particularly in the transitional period, to safeguard the financial rights of those members of trade unions who have acquired rights under cross-Channel unions?
I do not think it desirable to enter into a discussion on the matter at the moment, particularly in view of the fact, of which the Deputy is aware, that negotiations are at present proceeding between the two congresses.