Mr. Philip Carroll:

As the Senator knows, he have already made the point that it varies across the sectors and we recognise that. It also varies across the economy. It is not unique to the meat sector that there is no sick pay scheme in each individual operation. It is a matter for individual employers. We recognise and will engage with the process. I know the Tánaiste has announced proposals in this regard and there is an expectation that heads of a Bill will be produced shortly. From an MII perspective, we do not have any objection to that. We welcome the notion that such legislation might come into place. It cannot simply be a stand-alone Bill but it needs to be worked through. We need to see the detail around it and how it is structured and organised. It is also important that once that legislation comes to the Oireachtas, it needs to be considered in the context of the overall costs to the industry. We equally believe that it needs to be part of a discussion around the commission on taxation and social welfare. All of those elements need to be brought into that process to elucidate how that particular proposal will come forward. As a matter of principle, however, this is not a sector that has any objection to that type of legislation being introduced, once we have full sight of the detail.