Industrial relations and guidance counsellors
Micheál Martin seeks progress on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, assistance for Dunnes Stores workers, and clarification on guidance counsellors. The Taoiseach says the Bill is due this session, will raise guidance counsellors with the Education Minister, and hopes for a future debate.
Can the Taoiseach indicate when the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No.2 ) Bill will be introduced? It is a Bill to provide any legislative changes required to deal with the bargaining rights of trade unions, and it is included in the programme for Government. If it was in place, it would assist the Dunnes Stores workers who will be on strike tomorrow. Can the Taoiseach confirm when the Bill will be progressed through the House?
Can the Taoiseach indicate whether the Government is reviewing its position on guidance counsellors and its decision two years ago to take them out of our second level schools? It was a scandalous decision. Will he commit to restoring them? Can he indicate where stands the junior certificate reform proposals?
There is an issue I want the House to address and ask the Taoiseach whether the Government would be prepared to give some time to, namely, comments made by Deputy Adams some weeks ago on the murders of Garda Aidan Donohoe, Paul Quinn and others. In the course of his contribution he identified a small gang in a particular location which he said was responsible for all of those murders. I would regard that as a fairly significant revelation in itself. I looked at the blacks and that is what Deputy Adams said on the record, which contrasted with what was said publicly earlier by him and others who said they did not know the identity-----
Comment on this
These are crucial issues and we need a fuller debate in the House on them, or at least some explanation of the content and substance of those remarks.
Comment on this
The Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is due this session. On the question of guidance counsellors and the reform of the junior certificate, the Minister for Education and Skills has given her views in respect of the junior certificate. I will raise the question of guidance counsellors with her, but the decision was very clear, namely, to allow them to have greater freedom at school level.
In respect of the third matter the Deputy mentioned, it is a matter of concern to me. I hope that we could give consideration to a debate in the House, on the resumption of the Dáil, on these matters in general. A number need to be reflected and commented upon in the House.