andMr. J. Ryan asked the Minister for Labour if he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Trade Disputes Act, 1906, to ensure that public service and other excluded employees and their unions are brought within the protection of that Act and, if so, when such amending legislation will be introduced.

I am sympathetic to the amendment of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906, and discussions on the amendment of that Act, together with other amendments of trade union law, are at present at an advanced stage.

When is it proposed to introduce legislation amending the 1906 Trade Disputes Act? Will it be in this session or will we have to wait until later in the year?

The situation has reached an advanced stage. We are sympathetic to making these amendments.

Will it be in this session or will the amendments be later this year or will it be next year?

There are continuing discussions on it and we would be anxious to make the amendments, which I think are desirable.

Have the heads of the Bill been circulated to the Government and has approval been granted for the amending legislation?

I am not aware that the matter has reached that stage, but there is continuing discussion on it and we are anxious to have this legislation as soon as possible.

Would the Minister not agree, in view of his time in the House and even in his new post, that if the heads of the Bill have not been circulated and agreed by the Government we are not talking about this year at all and that the answer to the question is that it will be 1981 before the amending legislation will be in this House?

That is a matter of argument.

Would the Minister not agree that that is a reasonable interpretation?

It is a question of argument.

The Minister referred to other amendments. What other amendments are the Government considering?

That is a separate question.

No, Sir, the Minister in his reply said that the Government were considering further amendments to the 1906 Trade Disputes Act.

The Deputy knows well that no Minister will give information on——

The Chair said it. If I said it, I would be probably slapped down—he probably will not give it.

The Deputy knows well that no Minister gives information on legislation that is in the course of being processed by the Government.

They have not even discussed the heads of the Bill.

The Minister stated there were other amendments—what other amendments are being contemplated?

The Deputy asked that question and I disallowed it.

He did not make any reply.