Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is about standards in the industry. We have reached the stage where through the consultation process employers and trade unions, broadly, agree that we should put in place a new system to replace the old one but which would be more constitutionally robust and deliver the fairness employees expect. The requirement to have certain rates of pay for standards of qualification is important, as is our compliance with the postal workers directive which is important European Union legislation. I mentioned in my opening remarks that it was important that we comply with it because we must look at the transnational position and ensure workers working in this country are paid the appropriate rate.

What we do not want is a race to the bottom which benefits no one but rather badly affects employees and standards across industry.