Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this important motion on the rights of workers and the urgent need to change the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment radically and have a stand-alone department with responsibility for labour affairs. This is a progressive motion and a sensible proposal. All Members in the House who claim to be on the side of workers should support it. I welcome the opportunity for a wide-ranging debate on working people and the radical changes taking place in society.

The Independent group will always stand by working people and the weaker sections of our community. We support the right to be free from exploitation, the right to fair remuneration sufficient for a decent standard of living for the worker and his or her family, and equal pay for equal work. We support the right to form, join and be represented by trade unions, to negotiate contracts of employment and to engage in industrial action. We also support the right to work in safe conditions that are not harmful to health and well-being. We also support the right to access lifelong learning opportunities and vocational training and re-training. That is my position and that is the ethos of this motion.

While we are discussing the rights of working people, it is important to remind the Dáil of the 25th anniversary of the Stardust fire tragedy in Artane in my constituency. A group of 48 young people died in the terrible fire, and more than 240 were injured and maimed. These people deserve the truth and justice. It is not good enough for Mr. Butterly to try to open a pub on the site. It shows complete insensitivity and is a gross insult to the people of Coolock and Artane. They are now involved in a seven-day picket on the premises. I urge everyone to support them in their hour of need. They deserve a proper investigation and the truth. It is up to all Deputies to stand by these decent working families.

If we are serious about the debate and the protection of workers' rights, this Dáil will stand behind the Stardust family. It is not only a local issue, but an issue of people's and citizens' rights, public safety and an end to the abuse of our people. We have had enough talk and spin. Now is the time for action for the Stardust families. I commend their bravery and integrity and I support their efforts for justice.

Regarding the motion, it is important to end once and for all the issue of low pay in this country. Low pay and exploitation mean poverty and unhappy families. Low pay is an insult to a person's human dignity. There is no logical reason for this situation in this day and age in this prosperous country. Let us examine the reality of low pay in many communities. In many disadvantaged areas, 52% of children are not ready for primary school. We must have a war on educational disadvantage.

We now have a situation where children still live in homes where heating and dampness are issues, and 26% of children display significant conduct problems before even starting school. In disadvantaged areas, 20% of children have major eating difficulties and 31% of children constantly miss school. Those are issues of poverty and low pay and we must face up to them.

I welcome the section of this motion which calls for a separate, stand-alone Department of labour affairs, the prime responsibilities of which should be the improvement and enforcement of employment rights and entitlements, the protection of labour standards, industrial relations, the promotion of health and safety at work, the implementation of policies to improve work-life balance and promote lifelong learning and the establishment of an Oireachtas joint committee on labour affairs.

These are sensible and progressive ideas. They are also a vision of the way forward for our island. It also shows the need to develop an all-Ireland economy and any system or political border that divides workers is doomed to failure. I urge all workers, North and South, to unite to build on the Connolly vision for this country. This, the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, should be used as an occasion to build and develop a new Ireland built on unity, equality and justice for all our citizens. I want an all-Ireland that is rid of sectarianism and racism. I also want an Ireland that is big enough to accommodate difference and respect diversity. What a boring place it would be if we were all the same.

When we are discussing workers rights and the need for more protection, we must also focus on workers' money and how taxpayers' money is spent. We have seen examples. In my area, €200 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on the Dublin Port tunnel, and that is on the overruns.

I commend Deputies Ó Caoláin, Ferris, Ó Snodaigh, Crowe and Morgan on bringing forward this motion. I also commend their leadership and magnificent work on the peace process and on trying to build a democratic peace settlement on the island. This motion is about workers' rights, equality, justice and creating a new and radical and caring society. I urge all Deputies in the House to support the motion.

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