I do not think this Bill will give Senators any difficulty. Under the Trade Union Act of 1941 trade unions were required to maintain deposits with the High Court as a condition of obtaining negotiating licences. The amount of the deposit in any case was determined by the membership of the union and required from £1,000 to £10,000. It was recognised, however, when the Act was being passed, that some unions, particularly the smaller craft unions, would be adversely affected by prevailing conditions during the emergency and, consequently the Act contained a provision enabling the Minister for Industry and Commerce to grant a negotiating licence, where he thought the circumstances justified it, on making a reduced deposit—25 per cent. of the amount set out in the Schedule.
The power to reduce the deposit without affecting a union's right to a negotiation licence as provided in the Act was to continue for 12 months after the repeal of the Emergency Powers Act and no longer. The position is that in September next all these unions which obtained negotiating licences on the basis of reduced deposits, will be required to make full deposits or surrender the negotiating licences. It is clear, however, that the adverse conditions which affected some of the unions still continue, and representations have been made to me that it is desirable that these powers to permit of a reduced deposit, should be continued for a further period. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Act, and to continue the operation of Section 8, which relates to the reduction of deposits for a further period of 12 months. I mentioned in the Dáil that certain discussions are proceeding with organisations representative of trade unions, with a view to the preparation of proposals of a more comprehensive kind regarding trade unions. I hope these discussions will allow for the introduction of proposals within the 12 months contemplated in the Bill, and that the House will have an opportunity of discussing them, and, if they think fit, enacting them before the expiration of that period. It is, however, desirable that immediate difficulties for some of these smaller unions should be avoided while the preparation of other legislation is being considered and, therefore, it was decided to ask the Oireachtas to pass this Bill continuing this power to reduce the deposit for a further period of 12 months.