I call Deputy Coppinger.

I did not indicate but I was planning to do so.

I wonder why the Ceann Comhairle assumed the Deputy had done so.

Deputy Coppinger did indicate.

Nevertheless, I would like to know when the Government intends to introduce the legislation that is clearly needed to deal with what is happening in Tesco. I welcome the Sinn Féin Bill on the right to representation, which is to be proposed in this House later in the week. When will the Government bring forward legislation on the rights of workers in this country? Is the Government planning to do anything about Project Black, which involves the hiring by Tesco of an international union-busting legal firm? Apparently, the stated intention of Tesco, which is the biggest private sector employer in the State, in pursuing this project is to increase the profit it makes in Ireland from €250 million to €500 million by doing away with the union in the company and with the workers' pay and conditions. What legislation does the Government have in mind to deal with this matter? Is it proposing to sit back obliviously and do nothing?

No more than in any other dispute-----

On the same issue-----

I call Deputy Cullinane on the same issue.

As Deputy Coppinger mentioned, Sinn Féin is proposing a Bill that would, in part, deal with what is happening with Tesco and many other companies that are refusing to allow trade union access in the workplace. It is important for the Taoiseach to know that trade unions such as Mandate, Unite and the Financial Services Union and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have given their full support to our Bill. When we have proposed Bills on workers' rights in the past, they have been rejected by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for political reasons. I appeal to the Taoiseach and to Fianna Fáil to support the Bill we are introducing this week and to do what is right. Can the Taoiseach provide an indication on whether the Government will support the Bill in question, which has been tabled, in part, to deal with what is happening in many workplaces across the State?

I hope the issue of the workers in Tesco can be sorted out by people continuing to engage in discussions and negotiations on their differences of opinion. I understand that the stores are open. This issue needs to be resolved and the capacity is there to do that. I do not support the Sinn Féin Bill because it would seriously undermine the voluntary concept of industrial relations we have in this country. A variety of other reasons for not supporting it will be spelled out by the Minister when the matter is discussed in the House.

The Taoiseach is saying that people can be in a union but that it does not mean anything.

Deputy Cullinane is quite entitled to bring forward the Bill. I think that when the arguments are put forth here-----

The Taoiseach supports the employers. He is siding with the employers again.

The Deputy is talking about a serious change in the volunteer concept of industrial relations-----

The Taoiseach: It is clear that the Deputy is talking about a serious change in so far as the volunteer concept of industrial relations is concerned.

It is not a serious change.

-----and in the scale of activity of multiple unions in any business. It is worthy of a good discussion, but I do not support it.

Shock horror.