Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I note from a PDF document on sick leave on the ISME website that there is a big bold observation that there is no legal obligation on an employer to provide an occupational sick pay scheme for employees. I agree it is quite clear that the organisation does not recommend it.

Does Mr. McDonnell agree that Covid has underlined the problems with not having a sick pay scheme? For example, there was the issue of the conditions of meat factory workers where some of them felt pressurised to go to work and had no alternative even when sick. There is a story reported in the media about a contract cleaner in a hospital who was earning €10 an hour. She had a bowel infection but could not afford to lose pay so had to work wearing a nappy. She said she simply could not afford to be sick. Does Mr. McDonnell agree that the case for a statutory sick pay scheme is much clearer now?