Mr. Clement Shevlin:

At the earlier meeting it was suggested that this Bill gave no protection but the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland wholeheartedly support employees getting their tips. If they are saying it, the Minister is doing them a disservice by bringing forward a Bill that does not support it. If it was brought in now it would bring about a sea change in how workers feel about their workplace and their entitlements and around the question of who is there for them. There has been a breakdown in society with things like Brexit and people are losing faith. There is a disconnect and people do not feel anybody in here represents them. ONE Galway works with community groups and student unions. More people did not vote in local elections than voted and the ones who did not vote are those vulnerable people who do not get to participate in society. Anger and apathy build up. They are waiting for somebody like Senator Gavan to put a Bill like this forward. They are not in unions but we still campaign for them because it is an issue of social justice and we cannot ignore the people in the sector. It would give us a pathway to get better results for them. They should be on a living wage and not sitting around wondering whether they will get their tip or not. We have to have transparency for the customer and for employees.