Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

This batch of questions covers the work of the National Implementation Body and the prospects for the next round of social partnership pay talks. Has the Taoiseach heard comments by a number of trade union leaders in recent days to the effect that there is no great point in their entering new talks on pay in circumstances where commitments made under the previous agreement, Towards 2016, have not yet been implemented by the Government? In particular, I draw attention to the complaint that the occupational pensions part of the directive on the transfer of undertakings has not yet been given effect in Irish law. A fund that was to be established to assist workers doing part-time night courses, including degree courses, has not been established and the Government has not yet published the employment rights compliance Bill, which was to have been published before the end of 2007.

On workers' rights and compliance therewith, a story in last week's newspapers claimed workers on the new Irish Ferries vessel are to be paid €4 per hour. The Taoiseach will recall the row there was when Irish Ferries sacked its entire Irish workforce to replace it with a workforce from outside the State. At the time we were told these workers would be paid the minimum wage. However, several newspapers reported last week that the workers on the new vessel, the Oscar Wilde, which will run between France and Ireland, are being paid €4 an hour, less than half the national minimum wage.

Can the Taoiseach confirm that this company is now paying its workers €4 an hour? Where does this leave the national minimum wage? Where does it leave the enforcement of employee rights? Where does it leave the work of the national implementation body and the partnership talks? It is scandalous that any workers in this country or associated with this country would be paid that appallingly low rate.

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