Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important matter and commend Deputy O'Dea for introducing the Bill. In this difficult time for the country, it is important and welcome that those on the Opposition benches are contributing to the House as constructively as possible. More than ever before, we need such an approach during the coming years. However, the Minister's legal advice on this matter cannot be ignored. When we legislate on this matter, it is important to get it right, as Deputy White stated. There can be no room in the legislation for further problems to arise.

The Minister has stated he will take steps to legislate in this regard. That effort must be supported. He has put in place plans to ensure the legislation will be before the House as soon as possible. Since the Government's early days, the Minister has shown a strong desire to reform. By its nature, reform is never easy and requires great courage, leadership and determination. I am speaking on this matter because I want to outline to the Minister my support for what he is trying to do. He deserves great credit.

The fact that so many reforms must be undertaken by the Government is an indictment of previous Administrations. If the hard decisions were taken when they were necessary, as is the Government's job, we would not need to make so many reforms now. At least we now have a Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is willing to take the hard decisions and make reforms. This must be recognised and supported.

In my constituency I have met workers and union members who are concerned about the reform of JLCs and what could be coming down the line. They have already been hit with many charges, taxes and levies and are concerned about the number of other plans that could impact on their livelihoods seriously. While the Government needs to take their concerns on board, the message must be sent that it is determined to work with them to ensure people's livelihoods are protected and jobs in the economy are maintained. Now more than ever, reform is necessary if we are to ensure jobs are maintained. By increasing the minimum wage, we have sent a strong message to low paid workers to the effect that the Government is determined to protect them. We acknowledge that, if people do not have disposable incomes, our economic growth projections and the economy's future development cannot be maintained. Our proposals are aimed at growing the economy.

As a Deputy from County Kerry, I must mention how important the hospitality industry is to the county. We must retain competitiveness, although it has suffered in recent decades. The Government is doing its best to ensure competitiveness is restored and has already made efforts in that respect. We have taken action on the VAT rate and are determined to ensure jobs are sustained.

I grew up in a household that was heavily dependent on the hospitality industry. My father was a hotel porter in Killarney for almost 40 years and I acknowledge that it is difficult to work on Sundays. My father was hardly ever at home on a Sunday or on Christmas day or the other days when we expect families to be together. At the same time, we were grateful we had an income in the family from the hospitality industry and we must ensure those incomes and our competitiveness are maintained and for that reason, the Minister deserves our support to ensure the long-overdue and necessary reforms are put in place to secure a brighter future for the sectors affected by JLCs.

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