Dr. Deirdre Curran:

The Senator has said that "the overwhelming majority of employers" treat their staff well and Mr. Hynes has said that there is "a culture of exploitation". My answer is that we do not know as my research is the only research available and the 2019 survey was on 257 employees out of a workforce of 180,000. We need research done in order to have factual-based discussions about what actually goes on.

I have a list of good employers and believe that highlighting good employers must form part of any strategy. Employment rights only go so far. Having a right does not mean one gets that right. Rights are breached every day. Rights are the stated minimum standard but we also need incentives to raise the standard beyond the legal minimum.