Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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The compensation Ms Harkin is talking about only counts until such time as they get another job. If they get another job the following month then they are only entitled to one month's compensation. Let us be clear about this. The existing legislation is not fit for purpose.

I want to bring the witnesses back because I am down to the last couple of minutes at this point. They have not answered a couple of key questions. The first key question is, how are badly-paid workers in the care sector - which the witnesses have rightly highlighted has huge recruitment and retention issues - supposed to negotiate a pay rise when IBEC members refuse to recognise trade unions and refuse to collectively bargain with them? I am aware of the constitutional issue. I do not want to talk about that. I want to ask the question, how will these workers get a pay rise?