Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

Gabhaim buíochas don Teachta Tóibín as ucht an Bille seo a chur ar an gclár.

If we were to construct a fair and more equal society out of the ashes of the Celtic tiger, the protection of the lowest paid workers is not only a legal issue but it is a matter of absolute decency in order to bring about a fairer society to which I hope all parties in this House aspire. The people who have been protected by JLCs are vulnerable even though they do essential work and we should admire and respect them for doing it. Too often we do not give sufficient respect to people who do apparently menial jobs but jobs which are vital for our country. Imagine the effect on our society if bins were not collected. With the Feeney judgment, the protection has been weakened significantly for these workers and we need to strengthen it once more.

I would like the Minister to take particular note of what I wish to say about Sunday working. It is very important that we recognise that Sunday is a special day. It is a family day and a day on which people can go out and enjoy a football or hurling match, for example. Many people must work on a Sunday and, therefore, that inconvenience to them should be especially recognised in better pay rates and-or time off in lieu because it is important that people, in particular families, have an opportunity to do things together. It is an essential glue for a good society.

On the wider issue of the need to protect low paid workers from exploitation, I draw the House's attention to something I mentioned before, namely, a book by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett The Spirit Level which looks at societies across the world. The book deals with the effects income inequality have on society generally, including wealthier people, and points to the benefits of more equitable distribution of income. The research done by Wilkinson and Pickett demonstrates beyond doubt that higher levels of income inequality are directly related to increased crime rates, lower life expectancy, higher levels of mental illness, lower levels of educational achievement, higher rates of teenage pregnancy, higher levels of violence in society and several other indicators of human development. Beyond a certain standard of living, many of these indicators are closely related to equality of income distribution rather than the average income of a society.

The research indicates that if we want to lower crime rates, teenage pregnancy and violence and improve levels of health, education and life expectancy we must address income distribution in our society. If this Parliament wants to create a better society, we must put in place strong protections for the lowest paid. I hope the Minister bears this in mind when he brings forward his own comprehensive legislation on this matter. I intend to send him a copy of The Spirit Level and I encourage every Member of the Dáil and Seanad to read it because it may open their eyes to the positive benefits which accrue to societies with a more equitable distribution of income.

See this speech in context