Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Target 8.8 is to "protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment." Will Dr. Coates provide an update on the level the WRC inspectorate will stand at from January 2024? I know additional funding for inspectors was provided in the budget but how will it leave the numbers when retirements are taken into consideration?

On that issue of protecting workers, does the Department have a view of recent reports that a worker was dismissed for criticising the actions of the Israeli state in Palestine? Does it think the Unfair Dismissals Act might need to be strengthened? In my opinion, having some experience in this area, this was a clear-cut case of unfair dismissal. Clearly that is a matter for others to adjudicate on. There is a concern that has been expressed to me by trade unionists and other campaign groups about workers being censured for expressing views online and outside of their workplace - views which are not Islamophobic, anti-Semitic or offensive in any way. They are finding themselves, in the case of one worker at least, dismissed, and in some cases censured or pressured. Is there a need to strengthen the Unfair Dismissals Act to encompass that? I have brought this to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I feel passionately about it because people should be free to express views that are not Islamophobic, anti-Semitic or offensive, but are merely political views. These are views shared, I imagine, by the vast majority of people; maybe that is a value judgment I am placing on it. Is there a need in the current climate to look at the Act and ensure it can encompass protections for those workers?