It is difficult to understand the approach of the Minister for Finance to this measure. His concern for the Irish housewife now is pathetic, particularly when one remembers that during his long reign as Minister for Industry and Commerce he did nothing to control prices.
In ordinary circumstances we would not oppose the First Stage of any Bill on the principle that we would like to see what was in it but the Minister let us know most of the details on Friday night last. As far as this party is concerned and as far as the trade union movement is concerned neither they nor we will ever agree to any measure which takes away the right to free collective bargaining. The Government failed to control prices and they now pretend to put a blanket on all incomes. I do not believe this will be so. If the Government wanted to control prices they have had adequate machinery for doing so during the past four or five years, but they have not done so. In fact, the only commodities investigated under the Prices Bill were electricity and bread while the price of everything else has soared since that Act was passed.
In the Budget speech delivered in April last by the Taoiseach, deputising for the then Minister for Finance, we were assured that there would be strict price control. There has been no evidence of this and neither has there been any evidence of any intention on the part of the Government to enforce any sort of price control. The Minister for Finance has told us that price control will be limited to certain items. As far as I can remember, this involved the principal items that went into the basket of the housewife. If there is to be price control, it should be such.
While we all welcome the change of heart on the part of the Minister — I do not know who influenced him — in regard to the 12th round agreement, this change is typical of the Government's indecision. Within a short week they have changed their minds on a very important matter. This will not satisfy the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and those affiliated to it. The Government have shown disregard and disrespect for the views of the trade union movement. I am aware that the trade unions have sought an interview with the Taoiseach. This was asked for while he was in New York and I do not know whether it has been granted. The Bill will now be printed but there will not have been adequate consultation with the trade union movement. As far as the employer-labour conference is concerned it will be seen that the trade union movement were honest and sincere in trying to work out a wage formula but the Government decided to have this blanket freeze.
We are not impressed either by the Government's proposals as stated by the Minister for Finance that there will be control of dividends and profits. Dividends and profits can be put aside and paid on the 1st January, 1972 but wages and salaries lost cannot be recovered. We are aware that it is possible to have measures to control wages and salaries but we do not believe that there will be control of dividends and profits or of profits on the sale of lands.
I want to impress on the Government that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are opposed violently to a wage freeze and that as far as we are concerned, we will support the trade unions of this country in whatever legitimate action they decide on.
