Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 August 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The good news is that we have had expressions of support from at least one party in the Government on that. Here is hoping that it gets done.

As some will know, my father used to organise workers in the meat factories in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

It is shocking that those conditions do not appear to have improved and in fact, if anything, have gone the other way. I am struck by the fact we talked a lot about vulnerable people in nursing homes but we are not talking about the vulnerabilities regarding meat processing. Mr. Ennis is right that it is a regulated industry. We have heard in the media that the workers are the vectors. The real vectors are the lack of sick pay, living in overcrowded accommodation and not being able to take time off work. That is what is acting as a vector in this instance.

What the current situation regarding access to language appropriate information? I ask that Ms Labo please to be brief because time is tight.

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