Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and I thank the Members opposite for putting it on the agenda as a matter for debate to give all of us an opportunity to contribute. It is right that we should recognise the contribution of the trade unions. I listened to the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, on the way the commemorations for the centenary of the 1913 Lock-out will occur. That is to be welcomed also.

We must keep in mind at all times how we can improve workers' rights and conditions, but in the 100 years that have passed since 1913, matters have changed substantially. I come from a small industrial town in County Waterford that was literally built by capitalists. They were known as the Malcolmsons. They set up a cotton mill on the River Clodagh and they employed thousands of people in that mill. That town has a huge industrial and social history. I would not put those capitalists in the frame of the wording of this amendment with regard to employers because those very same capitalists set up the schools and provided social housing, water infrastructure and gas infrastructure. That was over 150 years ago.

To tar employers and capitalists with the one brush by saying they are totally opposed to workers and workers' rights is wrong. In the modern era, any employer would recognise that workers who are satisfied in their employment will be more productive. They will enjoy their working lives better and will enjoy a far healthier and happier life. That must be remembered. Unfortunately, the cotton mill to which I refer closed in the early 1900s and the site lay vacant until the 1930s when, under a Seán Lemass initiative, Irish Tanners was established on the site in the town from where I come. For more than 80 years good employment was held in Irish Tanners, but while there was good employment, I am not sure if the working conditions would survive in the current environment because of the new environmental demands in the modern era. Employers and nations had to adapt as regards the way working conditions improved over time.

We must remember that the Ireland joining the European Union has progressed workers' conditions substantially. We need only look at the EU directives on health and safety, exposure to dangerous substances and chemicals and the working time directive. All of those directives come from Europe and, as a result, the Irish Government introduced legislation which has done a great deal for the protection of workers and their working conditions and enshrines their rights in law. That should not be forgotten. Since we joined the EU, subsequent Governments must take credit for those improvements in working conditions.

The unions put on the agenda important issues with regard to workers' rights. In the 100 years about which we have spoken, they also had some fallow years. I refer in particular to the Celtic tiger years and the earlier years when I believe social partnership agreements were done in secret with the then Governments, particularly at the time of the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. I believe the unions were not working in the best interests of workers and jobs in those times. Agreements were entered into at that time that were short-term, short-sighted and did not consider long-term sustainability in terms of jobs. This Government is now faced with the task of trying to correct much of what I call short-termism.

In the current climate this Government's focus remains on jobs and creating job opportunities. I was stunned to hear the contribution from the socialist Member opposite this morning when she attacked the reputation of the President of the United States of America. In his country, employers and investors contribute enormously to the Irish economy and to the welfare of Irish people who work in his country. Ireland has the potential to increase its employment opportunities as a gateway to Europe, and we need to build alliances with investments, businesses and employers to ensure we have sustainable employment into the future. If we do not have employment, we will not have unions.

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