Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I will speak briefly in support of the amendment. We must bear in mind that the people we are speaking about are on pretty derisory wages, in many cases on approximately 10% more than the minimum wage across the board. I do not know why the Government wants to establish a statutory code with guidelines that I presume will not be enforceable. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Sunday rate, as I understand it, is time and a third. When one takes into account the sort of wages we are talking about - €12 per hour - it means the extra earnings may be €4 per hour for four or five hours on a Sunday. Taking into account income tax and the universal social charge, in more cases than not, we are left with a very small amount of money. Nevertheless, it makes a significant difference to the people in question.

I agree with the case being put forward, and there are many costs for businesses, with many elements affecting the competitiveness of Irish business. Getting rid of the Sunday premium for people at the very bottom of the pile will not restore the Celtic tiger in all its glory, so I ask the Minister to consider this amendment seriously. We can talk about codes and the Organisation of Working Time Act but this is designed to reduce the extra payment that people at the bottom of the wage scale get for working on Sundays. The Government should not proceed with it.

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