Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What we need is an unequivocal statement from the Tánaiste that she supports the workers on the picket lines outside the Dunnes Stores outlets today. In terms of a response, Dunnes Stores has offered a 20% discount on online purchases up to midnight tonight. What does this say to the Taoiseach and Dunnes Stores workers? It is high time this Government stood up and stood with the workers on this particular issue.

Dunnes Stores workers have a strong resonance with the people of this country, in light of many of them having stood against apartheid in the 1980s. On the wall in my office is a photograph of myself with the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, taken in Cape Town in 1995. During a meeting with him at that time, he asked me: "How are my girlfriends in Ireland? They meant a lot to me in our struggle." We are today not supporting people who supported a country that at that time faced greater challenges than this country does today. I urge the Tánaiste to unequivocally condemn the intimidatory and bullying tactics of Dunnes Stores, to stand with the workers and to bring forth legislation to address the issue of zero-hour contracts. Kicking address of this issue to the low pay commission is not good enough.

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