Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

Before I go into the details of the legislation and since we are dealing with employment protection issues, I commend Steve Staunton and the Irish football team on last night's win in Croke Park. They have got six points in five days and are third in their qualifying group. To the whingers like Eamon Dunphy, Johnny Giles and Roy Keane, I say they should leave Steve Staunton alone, let him get on with his contract and secure his employment. He is trying to do his best for his country.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a redundancy panel for the reference to it of certain proposed collective redundancies and for related action by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It also provides the removal of the upper age limit for entitlement to redundancy payments, makes consequential amendments to the Protection of Employment Act 1977, the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967, 1971 and 1979, the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Employment Equality Act 1998 and makes further amendments to those Acts to update penalties and in other formal respects.

Section 2 provides definitions of terms used in the Act. The definition of "industrial action" combines the content of the definition of "strike" in section 8 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 and of "lock-out" in section 6 of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967. I raise those definitions covered in section 2 because the issue of industrial action, strikes and so on seems to have gone off the political agenda in recent years. While for the vast majority of people it is a positive development, we also want to ensure trade unions are not losing their grip and control when it comes to the issue of industrial relations. Sadly, there are thousands of workers in this State who are not members of trade unions, which is regrettable for our society and economy. We all support the trade union movement in developing a trade union that is interested in the common good. Let us re-evaluate and reflect on the positive aspects of James Connolly's teachings on these issues. There seems to be anti-trade union mood in the wider society and particularly among right wing elements here.

As trade unionists it is essential we support the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly children. To the shame of all of us Ireland has one of the highest child poverty rates in Europe. Some 10% of our children go out in the morning without proper food or warm winter clothing. The mental health services for children are inadequate or non-existent. Access to speech and language therapists is extremely limited for children with disabilities. Pre-school facilitates are extremely expensive. Some children still live in substandard buildings in 2007. This is not acceptable.

I use this opportunity to commend my union, the INTO, on its magnificent campaign in recent weeks to promote class sizes of 20:1. It put the class size issue on the political agenda. This is an example of a trade union that is working with parents and teachers and putting pressure on politicians to deliver something that is good for our children and is also an excellent investment in education.

I point out to my friends and comrades in the trade union movement that it is important we do not forget the poorer sections of society. We have seen huge price increases in vegetables, fruit, gas and electricity and a 15% increase in rents for Dublin City Council tenants, particularly for those living on the north side of Dublin and for pensioners. I call on the Minister of State and the Government to assist, as a matter of priority, our elderly, people with disabilities and working people in general as these huge price increases make it extremely difficult for them to cope and they affect their quality of life. A number of pensioners I met the other night expressed concern about the high rate of VAT on many household items.

Reference was made to the debate about the wider issue of the all-island economy. There are positive and sensible developments in regard to this issue and it is constructive to have an all-island economy. I would like the trade union movement, North and South, to work more closely together. I use this opportunity to commend the brave trade unions which stood out against sectarian violence on this island for 30 years; they did a noble job and some of them paid the price for doing so. We should not be afraid to say that in this debate.

Section 7 of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 has effect, with modifications, in regard to a dismissal that is one of a number of dismissals included in a collective redundancy that is determined by the Labour Court to be an exceptional collective redundancy. The compensation payable is such amount as is just and equitable but may not exceed pay for 208 weeks for an employee who had no more than 20 years' continuous service or, in the case of an employee who had more than 20 years' continuous service, pay for more than 260 weeks. When referring to this issue, I wish to raise the issue of the potential loss of jobs. I pay tribute to constituents of mine who work in Cadbury's factory in Dublin. I ask the Minister of State be vigilant about this issue because many workers are concerned about the potential loss of their jobs to low-wage economies.

I welcome this opportunity put forward a trade union perspective on this Bill.

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