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Updated 11.46am
A NEW BILL that will go before the Seanad next week will make any disruption of essential utilities such as water and electricity illegal.
Feargal Quinn will table the Critical Utilities Security of Supply Bill, which could see workers whose strike action leads service cuts jailed for five years.
The bill will be opposed by the government with the Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte saying last night that it is “counterproductive”.
The bill comes against the background of proposed industrial action by ESB staff, but Quinn said it has been in the works since before then.
“It’s not inspired by the proposed ESB strike. It is inspired by the fact that hospitals and homes require a supply of two things: water and electricity,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“I’m copying legislation that has been enacted in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Romania and Portugal. Strikers would be required to ensure that the continuity of supply is ensured.”
Rabbitte said that while the government believes there should be not be industrial action in utility companies, criminalising it would disrupt the “good record of industrial peace” that has existed in Ireland over the last two decades through the existing industrial relations mechanisms.
The Minister said in a statement: “Of course the Government believes there should not be industrial disruption in our utilities but using the criminal law to try to achieve this would, I believe, be counterproductive.
“Provisions in negotiated agreements for ‘no strike’ clauses can work well; however, statutory provisions that include criminal sanctions are an entirely different matter.”
The bill comes complete with custodial punishments, but Quinn that the bill was not about targeting ESB workers.
It’s not about criminalising workers, it’s about ensuring that the legislation is credible and has teeth.
“You can have a strike without disrupting supply. We have to protect our critical utilities. If we can’t protect our electricity and water, how can we get investors to come here?”
The Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy said the bill “is an affront to the right of workers” to protect pay and conditions by going on strike.
- additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell
First published 11.07am
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I have the fear fair bad today
Did ya know going on the lash cures the fear.
I had serious fear myself Sunday morning. Was grand do in the end.. Few more for the “cure”.
Wouldn’t believe a word out of anyone when asked how much they drink. People under the age of 30 will exaggerate and over 30′s will under estimate. Nonsense statistics
I hate the way people boast about how much they have drank. They should be knocking a few off the amount instead of adding a few on. I have never heard it done in any other country.
Denial denial denial…….denial is one of the strongest characteristics /indicators of someone who has A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL/DRUG ABUSE.
I forgot to say ……Blaming someone/something else for your bad drinking habits/choices is also another strong indicator of alcohol abuse.
FFS, the Irish media and the UK media are exactly the same when it comes to alcohol consumption, what is it with all the rubbish concern about how much we drink, we will all drink as much as we like even if we know that we are drinking too much no matter what those who think they know better tell us. Lately here in the UK it’s demonisation of middle aged women who are now cause for concern for drinking too much wine after work, reading Irish media I see the same crap telling people what is good for them. Please stop demonising peoples escape habits as it is causing me to drink more than is recommended of my current favorite red from Portugal.
Cheers
If we get any better at drinking, They will be advertising jobs for
Tail gunner on a Guinness delivery truck soon.
At least we’re good at something
Yep, drugs and alcohol always seem to make the shit we’re in, appear better than reality, I think? Might be an idea to improve our idea of a just and decent society for all and not just the 3D rich?
Have to love all the whining about the recession and supposed difficulties making ends meet when the average person apparently spends ~€30 on alcohol every week.
Sobering Stats !
I drink roughly 125L. Whisky/yr. – Never caused trouble, never hurt anyone, – only myself.
Death by whisky, – way to go…
The fear is DTS serious stuff when that happens!
Lightweights!
I remember my first beer…
Depends on the company one keeps. Go figure!
have your say