Union recognition "not an issue" for Taoiseach

Replying to a Dáil Question from Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin on Tuesday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the right to union recognition is "not a major item" on the EU agenda. The Cavan/Monaghan TD had called on the Taoiseach in his role as EU President to launch an initiative to copperfasten union recognition.

Ahern said he had met the President of the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederation of Europe. Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of union recognition.

He noted that trade unions are being pushed out of the workplace and employees are being denied their basic right of representation by trade unions. "As President of the EU, does he have plans to launch any initiative in the course of the Irish Presidency to improve the situation and to address the difficulties with trade unions and the employer's confederation to copperfasten union recognition?" asked Ó Caoláin.

The Taoiseach replied: "At European level, union recognition is not a major item on the agenda. Countries have different positions, both constitutional and legal, and have different operational ways of working it, so it has not been a big issue. The rights of members has been an issue as has the issue of negotiation, which has been the issue here and with which the Tánaiste has been dealing."

Ó Caoláin said the Taoiseach's reply was "cursory and dismissive" and that he needed to "live in the real world where many working people are denied the right to union representation".