Mr. Clement Shevlin:

In terms of getting out there, meeting people, chatting to them and discovering the issues within the sector, what Dr. Curran has told us makes it clear how bad the situation is on the ground. Tips obviously did not come across the radar of the commission, not to mention the other issues. Low density in the sector is a significant issue but the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, stood up in the Dáil and said that the people in question were not even in a union, as if they were not important. They are the people who form the basis of our society. They are the people who, as Michael D. Higgins has said, are not able to participate in society. People talk about profits rising and about wages but we are talking about wageless growth in Ireland. Production levels are going up and profits are going up but people are on stagnating low wages, which is having a damaging effect on society. It must be addressed in these Chambers.