Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Prior to the High Court decision, I attended a large meeting in my constituency of people, mostly women, who were employed under the joint labour committee, JLC rules. All were low paid and all were concerned about maintaining their living standards. Some spoke of there being little incentive to work were they to take further pay cuts or were their incomes to be reduced further or eroded through levies or charges. Some were at pains to point out their employment was of a casual nature and their employer kept cutting their hours to the point where it was no longer worthwhile to work. Moreover, they told me that others were being employed at the minimum wage to replace them.

Since the High Court decision, Members have been informed that those who were employed under JLCs would be protected by their contract of employment. The experience I have just recounted outlines how vulnerable some of these workers are and demonstrates how in many cases their contracts are not worth the paper on which they are written. These workers were employed in the retail sector and spoke of how they used to enjoy their jobs but that it now has become a battle between themselves and their employer. Many were sick with worry about how they would pay their bills and mortgages or how they would feed their families.

While I support this Bill in principle, I acknowledge it is flawed. I note the Government has promised a more comprehensive Bill in the autumn and there is an absolute need to give guarantees to the approximately 200,000 people who are meant to be protected under the former JLCs. Moreover, it is essential that information be given to these people in the shortest possible time. When the Technical group devoted its Private Members' time to this issue, it was possible to discern a clear difference between Fine Gael and Labour Party Members as one party articulated the employers' side while the other articulated that of the employees. It is essential to outline what exactly will be the approach to give some comfort to these people who are concerned about their living standards. At present, it is as though it is the last secret of Fatima. The Government should outline exactly what is ahead for these people even if there will be a delay in bringing forward legislation.

See this speech in context