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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Jul 1990

Vol. 400 No. 9

Industrial Relations Bill, 1989: Report Stage (Resumed).

Debate resumed on amendment No. 9:
In page 8, lines 15 and 16, to delete "it is reasonable for those who are so attending to believe" and substitute "those so attending believe".
—(Deputy Rabbitte).

I was concluding on what I think all sides of the House have agreed is the most controversial area of this Bill. Under the business arrangements we have now agreed it will be seen that we will proceed very quickly through the outstanding 48 amendments but that this section goes to the heart of the Bill before us.

In moving amendment No. 9 I confined myself to making the net point that the test now for secondary picketing being introduced here is the object of one of reasonable belief as compared to the subjective one of honest belief on the part of the workers so involved. I do not wish to prolong that point but, on the group of amendments we are taking together, there is a very important distinction to be drawn between amendment No. 11 — which is an alternative to No. 10 — and the contents of amendment No. 10. The Minister must acknowledge that the structure of the workforce has changed dramatically over the last ten or 15 years. I would argue that this is a segment of the most vulnerable workers, indeed often not trade union-organised, in other words, contract workers who have very little security or employment and that such security of employment as they have is entirely dependent on their trade union.

Sitting suspended at 1.30 p.m. and resumed at 2.30 p.m.
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