asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give the text of the draft Trade Union Bill, 1963, which was prepared in his Department.
47.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Union Legislation.
46.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that on 1st April, 1966, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was informed by his Department that, inter alia, it was proposed, in addition to a measure dealing with trade union law, to introduce separate legislation at the same time to deal with the situation that arose following a Supreme Court decision in December, 1961, in the matter of peaceful picketing; and if he will state the reason the second measure on trade union law has not been introduced.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
I am aware that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was informed as stated by the Deputy. Although the Trade Union Bill, 1966, and the Industrial Relations Bill, 1966, were introduced recently the texts will not be available for some time yet. As it is intended to take these two Bills and the Bill to which the Deputy refers at the same time, it was decided to withhold the text of the third Bill until the texts of the other two Bills are available.
Surely the Minister must be aware that one of the Bills which has already been introduced is in direct contradiction of one of the sections in the other Bill, which has not been introduced; in view of the fact that a definite guarantee was given by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Dr. Hillery, in writing that the three Bills would be introduced together, would the Minister not try to have this Bill introduced as soon as possible?
I think the Minister will introduce it as soon as possible.
Surely the Minister is aware that the reason it has not been introduced is that the Government are attempting to get through the House a Bill which contains a section in direct contradiction of what they themselves said they were going to put into the amending Trade Union Bill, and would he have a look at that aspect of it? I have a copy of both and I know what I am talking about; the Fitzpatrick judgment was to be repealed and it is not, in fact, repealed. That is a breach of the guarantee given by the Minister. It is a disgraceful act on the part of the Government.
I do not accept that at all.
Whether the Minister accepts it or not, it is a fact.