David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today is international workers’ day and this year is the centenary of the 1913 Lock-out. On several occasions I have called for a debate on workers’ rights, not just to mark the centenary but to address the many issues which affect working people in respect of their pay and pensions. Over the past several years we have seen incidents of workers being locked out of their jobs and not getting their full redundancy or pension payments. I have also called for a senior member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, to attend the House to mark the important centenary of the Lock-out. At the time, I got a commitment from the acting Leader to have the Committee on Procedure and Privilege, CPP, examine this proposal. Will the Leader provide an update on this?

Later today I will be hosting an event in the audio-visual room at which the former Waterford Crystal workers who took the court case on their pensions will discuss the import of the European Court of Justice ruling. Their legal team, a pensions expert and the regional secretary of Unite will also make presentations. It is important the former Waterford Crystal workers get proper and adequate compensation for the fact the State failed in its duty to protect them.

It would be useful to have a debate on Harvest 2020. Yesterday’s positive announcement of 1,500 new jobs in Glanbia is welcome for Waterford and the south east. However, those 1,500 jobs will only be created if farmers can avail of the potential of Harvest 2020 and increase milk production. All the supports farmers need to achieve this must be put in place. Given the Glanbia announcement yesterday, it would be timely for the House to have a debate on Harvest 2020 and how farmers can reach the targets it sets out.