Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

My question was about the social partners and the Taoiseach's engagement with them. Have the Government's plans to amalgamate the five employment rights bodies been discussed with the social partners? Will the change improve the entitlements of workers? I think we will see more of this. I sat with Members of the Taoiseach's party as we heard from the Lagan Brick folks, who have been on strike for 208 or 209 days. A spouse of one of the workers described the difficulties she faces in making ends meet. This is a very profitable company which has public contracts with local government and, for all I know, with Departments.

The processes favour the employers and especially the big employers. A fine of €1,000 is a pittance for an employer but it is a huge amount to take from the pocket of a worker and his or her partner. It is no accident that workers are taking over their workplaces. In my opinion they are doing so because they have nothing else to lose. The Taoiseach acknowledged that the workers in Vita Cortex wanted respect. They should not be required to endure strikes for almost six months to get that respect. They are not asking for anything extravagant, like big bonuses or breaking the ceiling on pay. They are asking for appropriate redundancy payments. Where should they go given that the State's mechanisms are not functioning in support of them or their rights?

See this speech in context