John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Since I have only a brief time I will cut it to the minimum and I will not go into too many facts and figures. I welcome the debate. It is emotive and because of the emotion on all sides many facts have been forgotten. We all seek to protect lower-paid workers. This was demonstrated by the Government in the restoration of the minimum wage. We also seek to give low-paid workers who have lost their jobs in recent years the chance to get back into the jobs market. There are streams of people who want jobs and who are willing to work. People want to work but the jobs are not available. I have been to towns and villages where restaurants and hotels are closed on certain days of the week because their owners cannot afford to provide the service. Demand may be down, but the reality remains that there are issues in regard to the JLCs. The system cannot remain as it is; something must be done to amend it.

In return for the implementation of these provisions, hotels and restaurants have promised, and have put that commitment in black and white, to increase their employment by thousands. This should be put to the test in the same way as the abolition of the travel tax is putting the airlines to the test. If the promised jobs do not materialise after a period, then some of the Opposition's arguments will be proved credible. The relevant employers have also given an undertaking that current workers' contracts will not be affected by the changes. We must have an opportunity to put these undertakings to the test.

In regard to the construction industry, as referred to by Deputy Joe McHugh, I am encountering a constant line of small-scale contractors who cannot compete with contractors from outside the State who are submitting low tenders for jobs and, in many cases, paying workers black economy rates to get the work done. The livelihood of these small-scale contractors must be protected. If there is some reform and re-organisation of this system, the jobs of the lower paid in the construction sector can not only be protected but can be secured for the future. If the situation is left as it is, however, the necessary supports for low-paid workers will not be in place.

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