Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make what I suspect will be a brief contribution to the debate and I look forward to saying a good deal more tomorrow. The Minister will no doubt be interested in the contribution of Deputy Seán Barrett. The Deputy is aware that I have admired his work for a long time, and that will not change tonight. However, from listening to his contribution and the relevant and valid points made, the position of the Minister will inevitability be that he is damned if he does, and he is damned if he does not introduce the legislation.

The Minister of State pointed out in his introductory speech that NERA was established on an interim basis following the social partnership agreement Towards 2016. We all understand that this took place against a backdrop of much disquiet about the inadequacy of enforcement of employment law standards. The Minister of State also pointed out that Deputies throughout the House, including me, have raised with him and the Government a range of issues relating to these standards. He made the famous remark that the Government was condemned for having more dog wardens than labour inspectors and his intention was to remedy that situation. In fairness to the Minister of State, he has shown a particular interest in these issues, which is important, as the previous speaker will agree I am sure. The Minister of State must listen to the debate and balance what is right and wrong.

I do not suggest the view is held by Deputy Barrett, but I sense there is a view that with the current economic situation it would be very easy for the Department and its inspectors to blink when certain things occur. However it is important to stress this is not the case. Before I became a Deputy and a public representative I was always in employment, thank God. I was involved in the trade union movement and I bring to politics my experiences in that regard. I can state that I lost my job on three separate occasions. It was always a very dramatic experience for my family and me. That recollection brings home to me the importance of good employment and that workers' rights should always be protected.

The previous contribution formed an interesting part of the wider debate. The Minister of State must try to do what is right and uphold the principles of social partnership. The past two weeks have been difficult for those of us who strongly support social partnership. Many trade union officials have made that point. Despite some comment to the contrary, trade union officials have been discussing events with Fianna Fáil Deputies in the recent past. I have had much interaction with friends in the movement, who have a point of view to express. When I have an opportunity to make a greater contribution to this debate I will support the concept of ensuring that labour laws are always upheld. I believe the intentions of the Minister of State will have broad support. The Minister must make a decision in due course. I listened when he introduced the Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 and recall hearing that he was open and amenable to the comments of the House and to amendments. I suspect there will be many of these.

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