Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is probably the dearest little country in which to live and survive. Given that there has been a huge increase in what can only be described as precarious work, the great majority of the new jobs created in the last couple of years have been low paid and many of them are temporary as well, with very poor working conditions in many cases. It has reached a stage where the worker does not have as many protections as he used to have. Given the fact that the unions sold out a while ago, there is nobody to represent the workers now. It would be good if the Government would take the side of the workers and introduce extra protections for them when they are in difficult circumstances with their employers.

The bargaining position of the worker has never been as weak with the employer, due to the scarcity of work. Does the Minister not think that the State itself should be taking more proactive measures to protect the workers?

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