John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming here today. I have a quick question for Mr. John Smith. Having read back over his presentation, I am slightly confused. Is he saying that there is no place for registered employment agreements, REAs? He said that his organisation has not seen mass exploitation of electricians but in saying that, he is admitting that there has been some exploitation. We all recognise that businesses need to be competitive. Indeed, we have met representatives of small and medium sized businesses at many meetings of this committee who are really are struggling, while others have made it through the tough days. I am very confused, both as a Deputy but more so as a person, as to how Mr. Smith could support a system that allows some people who have gone through the apprenticeship system to qualify but then be undermined by their boss because of a lack of legislation. Perhaps I am misinterpreting his presentation and I ask him to correct me if I am wrong. He suggested that there has not been mass exploitation, which implies that there has been some exploitation of electricians. At the same time, he is suggesting that we should not introduce legislation to protect workers such as electricians. I am confused about his position and his view that a free market would be better for everybody. I pass by a teaching institution every day on my way here from Ballymun and I see people protesting outside because of the lack of REAs. Not all employers are good and decent. Some people will only adhere to legislation and will not act out of decency.