Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht ar an rún tábhachtach seo. Buíochas ach go háirithe do na Teachtaí atá ag tacú leis an rún. Tá bagairtí nua ar chearta nan-oibrithe; in Éirinn, ar fud na hEorpa agus ar fud an domhain faoi láthair. Má táimid chun na cearta sin a chur chun cinn caithfimid tosú sa bhaile agus tá an rún seo mar chuid de na hiarrachtaí atáá dhéanamh ag daoine ar an eite chlé agus i ngluaiseacht na gceardchumann chun cearta a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn.

I thank all Deputies who have taken part in the debate on this important motion, particularly those who have expressed support. A number of Members pointed out that this is a timely motion, and so it is. Established rights of workers are under attack in Ireland, Europe and throughout the world. Rights, freedoms and protections built up through the efforts of generations of trade unionists are being eroded. We must ask how that is possible. One of the main reasons is that the basic right to be a member of a trade union is not vindicated. While the right exists in theory in this State under the 1937 Constitution, in practice, employers are allowed to deny workers that right by making non-membership of a trade union a condition of employment.

An RTE television programme on Monday last recalled the Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike of the early 1980s. I attended that picket line many years ago. It was a shining example of selflessness on the part of young workers who refused to handle the fruits of apartheid and who, after a long and gruelling strike, succeeded in forcing an Irish Government to impose an embargo on South African goods. For anyone who thought those days of solidarity and popular protest were over, they were proved wrong with the widespread support for the Gama workers, the Irish Ferries workers, the Rossport Five, Joanne Delaney and many others in recent years who have stood up to exploitation. These include immigrant workers who have been disgracefully treated by certain employers, something every Deputy, including me, has seen in his or her constituency. This must stop.

Let us be clear. The department of labour affairs that is proposed by Sinn Féin would not be a substitute for trade union organisation and a strong grassroots union membership. Rather, it would be an essential step to ensure that the full range of labour rights, including the right to trade union membership, are totally vindicated.

I point out to Deputy Perry of Fine Gael, who misinterpreted this point, that we are not calling for trade union membership for employees to be mandatory. We are most definitely calling for mandatory recognition by employers of the right to trade union membership for all employees. That is something Irish workers have been struggling for since the 1913 lockout, yet employers are still allowed to bar unions from their workplaces. That practice must end.

I note that while Deputy Perry supported the tone of the motion on behalf of Fine Gael, his party colleague, Deputy Pat Breen, stated that the party could not support it in its totality. Unfortunately, we did not have an opportunity this evening to hear which parts they object to — there is none of them present in the House. I am sure many of their prospective partners in the Labour Party would be interested, as would many trade unionists, not only listening to this debate but hopefully following the contributions subsequently, to know what were the parts with which Fine Gael was not happy. Why are its Deputies not in the House? Is it the case that when the vote is called they will be sitting on their hands on these issues regarding workers rights, as they have done many times in the past?

I wish to address a number of comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, on this motion last night. He referred to the "deep and unwavering commitment of the Government in the area of employment rights". I have the highest regard for the Minister of State, and I say that sincerely, but, with respect, that is quite untrue. The lack of commitment was evident during the Irish Ferries dispute in particular when the Government showed little interest in intervening to protect workers' rights.

The Minister of State mentioned the commitment to statutory rates of pay, yet the minimum wage is not even being enforced and wages of some skilled workers are being dragged down to minimum wage levels.

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