Mr. Denis Hynes:

I will be brief. When we had the JLC in hospitality, there was an onus on the employer to put up in the canteen what one's legal entitlements were, what was agreed under the JLC, and what was agreed with the unions and the employers' bodies through government and the court. It was a way in which employees could see the minimum terms and conditions in their employment, but it has not appeared on a canteen wall since 2011. As has been pointed out, it has gone beyond the race to the bottom.

Through SIPTU - it has been echoed here strongly with all the unions - and Congress, one of the strongest ways we can make sure that workers are protected, including migrant workers who will come into the country, whether through visas or any other way, is by putting in place the mechanism and framework of a JLC and starting those talks now. It is a decade since it was vetoed. The timing could never be more right. In doing this, it will not only protect workers in the industry; it will also protect the employment.

I would like to make another point that Mr. Shevlin and I were talking about outside before we came in. When we in SIPTU go in to negotiate a pay increase, one of the things that an employer will say to us is that if he or she gives us 4% or 5%, he or she is putting himself or herself at a disadvantage to the employer down the road. This will put a floor in place to protect all employments. That is my point.