Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

The Minister spoke about the last 40 years and the brilliant things that have happened for Irish and European workers. The Celtic tiger economy and boom time throughout the world was due to globalisation and deregulation of the banking system, which poured loads of credit into economies and people's pockets. Over that period of time workers' rights were driven back. Most private companies now offer contract work, not full-time jobs. A major company such as Diageo, for example, has a workforce in which only 5% are full-time workers. The Minister referred to equal pay. In my old job, workers who are working side by side and doing the same job are on different levels of pay. That is also being driven down by the economy. The situation was not rosy beforehand and it is even less rosy now. How can the Minister stand over her point?

There are 25 million people unemployed in Europe. Under this treaty €166 billion could be cut across Europe. How will that bring growth into the economy? The Minister mentioned money growing on trees. Her Government's slash and burn policy will create no growth in the economies across Europe, and people are pointing that out. She also referred to IBEC and various businesses supporting the treaty. For the first time, however, three major unions - Mandate, UNITE and the TEEU - are opposing it, while SIPTU has said it would call for a "No" vote if there is no job or growth creation in the treaty. It is not the same as previously. The balance has changed in this regard. What is the Minister's opinion on that?

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