Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach agree that the decision by the MANDATE trade union to withdraw from the social partnership process blows the myth that this is a high wage economy? Does he accept that the members of MANDATE took the decision primarily because the greater number of them receive a very poor return for their work? Does he recognise that the majority of these members work in bars, restaurants and shops which form a highly profitable sector, yet these workers are not getting a return commensurate with their labour? Does he not accept that, since its inception, the social partnership process has failed these workers? Does he not accept that many workers have been left lagging behind and that while it is not confined to MANDATE membership, it is where it is most apparent and most acute?

There has been evidence in recent days of a further tranche of workers working for a Serbian company, which is involved in subcontracting work for the ESB, who have been paid an outrageous return of approximately €4.96 an hour? Will the Taoiseach tell these workers and their colleagues, who are correctly and courageously standing shoulder to shoulder with them, what the partnership process will do to correct this type of abuse? Does he agree that current employment protections and regulations are not being adhered to by those who subcontract for work on major schemes and it is not the first time that either State or semi-State contracts have been involved? Does he agree that these abuses are taking place within the State and semi-State sector where public money is involved, and there is a legion of such examples down through the years?

As the Leader of the Government, does the Taoiseach agree that it is appropriate that all State and semi-State companies, including local authorities, should carry out a full audit and appraisal of the work practices of all these companies to whom they have contracted out public works? This should be done to ensure that there is full adherence to hard fought for and hard won trade union rights and levels of remuneration for Irish workers, which should be enjoyed right across the board and without distinction. Will the Taoiseach join me in calling for a rigorous review, for want of a better description, of all such contracts to ensure that where this practice is currently taking place, we do not learn of it piecemeal, with others able to operate in a continuum, and that rather we now see a situation whereby companies which are prepared to abuse are put on notice that they will not be considered for public contract works in the future unless they immediately desist?

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