Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened very carefully to the questions of other members and to the Minister of State. He referred to the Debenhams dispute. I clearly remember the Clerys dispute and we also had a dispute in Cork with Vita Cortex where workers had to have a sit-in for months. Similar issues arose with Coca-Cola in Cork where workers had to protest and picket outside for months. This issue is not confined to Debenhams, it is about workers' rights. The Duffy Cahill report was published in 2016. What the Debenhams workers are so upset about is that if the recommendations of the Duffy Cahill report had been implemented within the past four years we would know whether it was relevant to them or not, but we do not know because nothing was done in the past four years. The Minister of State has said we do not know if it would have affected them, but the reason we do not know is because this Government and the previous Government did nothing to implement the report's recommendations.

Will the recommendations finally be implemented for the Debenhams workers and other workers who will, unfortunately, be in a similar position going forward? If more changes are needed following the review the Minister of State is carrying out, will they also be implemented? Senator Sherlock asked about timelines. They are vitally important. We need to know when the issue will be addressed.

The Minister of State said the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste gave the Debenhams workers a commitment to strengthen the legislation. I ask that a commitment would be given to solve the Debenhams dispute before Christmas. It is unbelievable to have workers on the picket lines for eight months. The Government needs to step up now.