Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this issue, particularly having met many of the Dunnes Stores workers in recent weeks. This matter is going to affect society on many fronts, not just in terms of work but also in the context of how people lead their lives. I agree with much of what was said by Deputies Catherine Murphy, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan. The Deputies are three women of wisdom.

In the context of the issue under discussion, we must consider how people are paid and the responsibilities of unions and employers. In the event that people are not given the opportunity to go to work in a meaningful, purposeful, fair and equitable manner, they will not be encouraged to take up positions in the first instance. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Nash, has a long-standing relationship with the unions in the context of protecting people's rights and ensuring workers' access to fair conditions.

I wish to highlight a couple of issues that are of pertinence to people's lives. The Dunnes Stores workers with whom I spoke are concerned by the fact that they do not know what will be their working hours in any given week. This gives rise to uncertainty in the context of child care and certain of the individuals involved are obliged to ask family members to look after their children. If these people want to put their children into crèches, they must consider whether to book places for five days or whether to proceed on a day-to-day basis. Of course, booking a place for five days works out cheaper.

I consulted my local credit union in Tralee in respect of this matter and discovered that when people apply for loans, their credit risk is ultimately determined by their cash-flow and their ability to show that they have secure incomes. Credit unions offer loans in respect of simple things such as the refurbishment of houses and the purchase of cars. Ultimately, people who save enough with them can potentially obtain mortgages. The ability to obtain any of these is forgone by those on zero-hour contracts. This is despite the fact that many on such contracts may be working for 35 hours each week and obtaining decent incomes.

Security of tenure is of paramount importance. Having been present at some of the stores at which picket lines were in place, I could not believe the treatment meted out by the management of Dunnes Stores to staff. What I witnessed was particularly distasteful and it would appeal to very few citizens. Those who saw what was happening were not happy with the way Dunnes Stores treated its staff. The low pay commission has a major role to play in the context of resolving this issue. I welcome the establishment of the commission and I acknowledge that a great deal of work is being done by the coalition Government in this area.

There is genuine concern among people regarding the model society is currently pursuing in respect of this matter. I have heard the heads of State agencies refer to contracts, not just those for individuals in receipt of low pay but also for people on middle and higher incomes. Such talk is not good for society in general and it does not provide people with either security of tenure, peace of mind or the capacity to progress, particularly in the context of access to housing and loans. The model of multiple jobs and multiple careers through contracts is not one for which anyone should advocate. Those whose primary reason for getting out of bed each morning is a low-paid job must be protected. A previous speaker referred to the fact that students, certain single parents and others require flexibility. However, this must not be facilitated to the detriment of society overall or workers in general.

I wish to highlight a couple of positive aspects to this matter. I agree with the Minister of State, Deputy English, who indicated that when it took office, the Government acted immediately in order to protect people with incomes at the lower end of the scale. The decision to reverse the cut in the national minimum wage and increase it from €7.65 to €8.65 was made by the Government, not the Opposition. Some 410,000 low-paid workers have been removed from the universal social charge net. This was a development we brought about; it was not brought about by the Opposition. Ironically, the Opposition voted against the proposal. Recent increases in employment have come in the form of full-time rather than part-time jobs. I acknowledge that some of these jobs are contract based but 86% of the growth in jobs in the past two years has come about in the area of full-time employment.

What Sinn Féin is trying to achieve by means of the motion is largely correct. However, it should seek to deliver some of the same medicine in the North of Ireland. I found it very difficult to listen to the vehement and nasty comments uttered by those in Sinn Féin about the Labour Party's performance in government. There is a contradiction in their discussing the protection of people when members of the IRA, who are also members of Sinn Féin, did not do a great deal in the past to protect those who were the victims of paedophiles and rapists. As already stated, it can be difficult to listen to some of what those in Sinn Féin have to say.

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