When is it proposed to take the next stage?
Conditions of Employment Bill, 1944—Committee and Final Stages.
Bill passed through Committee without amendment.
Now.
Before taking the next stage, I should like to suggest to the Minister that he should defer the further stages until after a conference has taken place between representatives of the Trade Union Congress and representatives of employers. There is a good deal of misgiving about the retrospective effect of the Bill. It goes back over a number of years and it is not going to do very serious harm if it is held up for a while longer. If the Minister is willing to adopt the course I suggest it might remove a good deal of doubt and suspicion that exists amongst trade unionists about the effect of the Bill.
My feeling is that I do not think there is any ground for doubts as to the effects of the Bill but if they exist I am prepared to meet the parties concerned for the purpose of removing them. A very high percentage of the persons affected did not know they were affected until this amending Bill was introduced. I think it would create unnecessary industrial disturbance if the enactment of this measure was delayed now that this knowledge has become general.
In view of the fact that the present legislation may have an effect on cases going through the courts, it may, if delayed, result in a number of fresh cases coming before the courts and that might have a disastrous effect on some industries.
Question—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be returned to Dáil.