Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have been clear we are trying to get the balance right and to recognise that at any given time the Minister or Government of the day must have the power to increase or reduce the number of days. What we are trying to create here is good quality sustainable jobs but one must be able to react to the situation.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, and the Government is clear about what we doing. Deputy Paul Murphy talks about Dáil support and that applies to any side of the argument here. We have laid out that the commitment here over the next four years is to go to ten days. The legislation starts that process, brings in a formal statutory sick pay scheme and sets a minimum floor on that. We intend to build on that as well but we believe that needs to be left up to the Minister and Government of the day.