Vol. 484 No. 3
30 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the terms of reference, if any, of the group established under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach to consider proposals by ICTU regarding trade union recognition and the right to bargain; the membership of the group; the progress made to date in this regard; when it will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19283/97]
31 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will propose a constitutional amendment on trade union recognition to be put to the people on the same day as the Amsterdam Treaty to enable legislation to be enacted to give trade unions the right to be recognised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22040/97]
36 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the discussions of the high level group on trade union recognition; the plans, if any, she has made to draw up the necessary legislation to ensure representational rights for workers. [22030/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 31 and 36 together.
As I informed this House in November, Partnership 2000 contains a commitment to establish a high-level group, representative of interested parties, to consider proposals by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions concerning trade union recognition and the right to bargain. This group, established last July under the auspices of the Department of the Taioseach, is representative of the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance as well as my Department, ICTU, IBEC, IDA-Ireland and Forbairt. I am represented on the group through my officials.
