Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is clear that there are huge disadvantages in terms of health, income and other factors associated with working in meat plants. That is not just in Ireland, it is in England, France and America. The working conditions such as the lower temperature, the proximity of workers to each other, the long hours that they work and the close conditions in which they live exacerbate the issue. That is unacceptable.

I acknowledge the issues that have been raised in terms of employment law and unions. I accept that is for a different forum. We are looking for a solution to the health issues. If one cannot vindicate the rights of people in terms of their working conditions, where they live and how they travel to work then it does not make sense for that to continue. I appreciate and fully support what the witnesses have said. While we do not have figures in Ireland I have seen figures from the UK about minority communities, as opposed to mainstream communities, who get Covid. In other words, it is the case that because of the conditions in which they live or where they work, immigrants seem to suffer more from this illness. What are the three or five key points that we need to put in place now to protect workers in this situation assuming that the health issues are prioritised?

What does Ms McGinley see as the immediate solution to these problems?