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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 1989

Vol. 389 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Relations Legislation.

4.

asked the Minister for Labour if he is considering legislating for secondary picketing; if his definition of secondary picketing would extend to ports, airports, shopping centres, industrial estates and medical halls where all employers in these locations have common entrances; the way in which he proposes to protect employers and employees not party to trade dispute taking place at a location of this kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

8.

asked the Minister for Labour when the Bill to reform industrial relations, trade unions and trade dispute law will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 8 together.

The drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and I hope to introduce it in the Dáil very shortly. The provisions of the Bill will include a proposal aimed at clarifying the law on picketing, including secondary picketing. I do not propose at this stage to go into the details which I consider to be more appropriate for examination and discuss in the context of the debate on the Bill itself.

All I can say is that I heard it before. The Minister said precisely the same thing a year ago. In fact, he promised the Bill before Christmas last year and now he says it will be before us shortly. Having made that point, may I ask the Minister if he is considering points raised in this question in relation to secondary picketing, in advance of the drafting of the legislation?

The answer to the second question is yes. In relation to the first question, needless to say if I had had the Bill yesterday I still would not be happy. The Deputy will accept that I started progress. It was a commitment in the Programme for National Recovery. Discussions started in January of last year and went on throughout the whole year. It was cleared by Government in September and drafting started from then. The only delay now is caused by matters relating to the Constitution and the 1906 Act. Bar some new disaster, it will be circulated within a matter of a few weeks.

Could I ask the Minister——

I am sorry, Deputy Wyse, I am afraid that I cannot hear the Deputy. Supplementary Questions are confined to the Deputies who have tabled them in respect of Priority Questions. I call Question No. 5.

The Minister also said that he was taking Question No. 8 with Question No. 4.

That is so, Deputy, but it does not alter the procedure on priority time.

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