Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----which is that this is an easy route out for a small but significant element of bad employers. I welcome what Dr. Coates said because this is an Act that does need to be reviewed. I urge him to bring that message back, particularly in terms of the changing workforce we have. I am thinking in particular of some of the meat factories, which are a very important sector in our economy. Any time workers in these factories have tried to organise they have been dismissed. Meat factories are very cool about that. They say it is no problem and they will do a case for unfair dismissal, which is not an issue. This involves workers who desperately need to work. They have to keep their family supported and they will get another job quickly, unless they are injured. It is, therefore, an easy get-out clause. That particular sector consistently resists trade union organisation or recognition. That is a fundamental problem. These are some of the most important workers we have - they saw us through the Covid crisis – in one of the most important sectors we have and they have no real protection most of the time. That Unfair Dismissals Act definitely does not protect them. That is an example of a particular sector that I ask Dr. Coates to take back. I thank him for taking on board my points.