Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me be clear. It is not the intention that the Low Pay Commission or the work Minister of State Deputy Gerald Nash is doing in respect of zero hour contracts will deal with this particular problem.

I am simply saying that is a measure of Government because of a concern about clarity and the future of everyone who is a low-paid worker. That is an important issue that is being attended to now by Government.

In respect of this issue, I support the Dunnes Stores workers in having a right to clarity in so far as their working lives and working weeks are concerned. I would hope that this strike does not have to go ahead. As the secretary of Mandate trade union explained to me, this happened or was about to happen in other stores and a decision or conclusion was reached that was satisfactory for the workers in terms of giving them clarity about their week's work and their working lives. I hope the strike does not go ahead. I support the workers in their right to have clarity about their working lives. Therefore, the message to the employers is that this can be sorted out. These workers are loyal workers. They provide services every day of the week on a 24-hour basis. That should be recognised.

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