Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is where I want to start. I thank the Chairman for his generosity, given that I am only a guest at this meeting. This Bill, as proposed by the Government, does absolutely nothing. We have heard from the independent researcher here that it does not address the key issue which is the theft of tips. It is shocking. Naturally, we have focused on the service charges and I will read the definition of same contained in the Bill that passed Seanad Éireann with the support of all parties except Fine Gael. It reads as follows: "a service charge or similar charge imposed by an employer on a customer in such circumstances that a reasonable person would be likely to infer that the customer intended or assumed that the payment would be redistributed to an employee or employees". That is the definition we need. The reason that the hotel and restaurant folk got so upset about our Bill, which received wide support, is that they are terrified that the service charge con job that has gone on for years is going to be stopped.

I am stunned by the quotes read out by Dr. Curran and I do not think I could follow that. What do the witnesses want to see done next? How can this committee, of which I am not a member, and the Oireachtas help to tackle this dreadful issue of tip theft?