Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

However, we have a minimum wage in Ireland. There is none is Sweden and we must acknowledge this.

I sometimes feel I live in a different area to some of the Deputies opposite. We have very robust and strong legislation to protect employees and ensure their rights are vindicated. The Employment Appeals Tribunal, Irish Human Rights Commission and Labour Relations Commission are instrumental in this regard. There is a vast corpus of employment rights legislation to protect workers. To suggest this side of the House is not caring in this regard is incorrect because we have been very proactive in ensuring the establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority. I hope 90 labour inspectors will be recruited by the end of the year. These measures were all included in Towards 2016 on foot of strong commitments made in negotiations with the social partners.

We will be opposing the Bill. A review body has been set up and all the Members who have contributed today can make submissions thereto. The deadline is at the end of this year. I am quite sure the review will be successful. If there are anomalies in the legislation, we can then deal with them. We will deal with them in a structured manner rather than by way of the Labour Party's knee-jerk reaction.

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