Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Agus oibrithe Dunnes Stores ag seasamh an fhóid, tá deis againn breathnú ar chás gach oibrí in Éirinn. Tá fadhb mhór againn in Éirinn, Thuaidh agus Theas.Is cuid iontach tábhachtach d'Eire cothrom a chur ar fáil pá cothrom a thabhairt don lucht oibre. Níl sin ag tarlú faoi láthair.

This State, the Twenty-six Counties of our island, has the second highest percentage of low -paying jobs in the OECD, coming a close second to the USA and the situation is getting worse. Many will be aware of the situation in the USA where some of their most profitable corporations may also be beneficiaries of the taxpayer- funded programme commonly known as food stamps. Working while remaining in poverty is a perversion and it is something that occurs here also. This alone should give us great pause for thought.

We know that poverty and poor health worldwide are inextricably linked. The causes of poor health for millions across our globe are rooted in political, social and economic injustices. We are told that poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor health, something any of us who is committed to working for this increasing body of citizens across the State, understand deeply. Poverty increases the chances of ill health and ill health keeps families and whole swathes of society in the poverty trap. There has been a disproportionate effect of successive austerity budgets on low income families who are also particularly dependent on the public health system and therefore most affected by cuts in health services. The inverse care law tells us that those who need health care most, get it least. Lack of housing, poverty, lack of education and low occupational status are all linked. Low pay and zero hour contracts, along with these factors, all converge to create a perfect storm that acts against good health. It challenges the ability of these workers to seek health, to afford health, to make informed decisions about their health and it most certainly increases mental stress.

There are considerable differences evident in Ireland in terms of life expectancy and premature death between people from different socio-economic backgrounds. This relates to the reduced availability of health care services and reduced coverage, along with reduced disposable income for many of our citizens. Reports tell us of 10% food poverty in Ireland and one in five children going to bed or to school hungry. Wide gaps in health indicators between children of different socio-economic groups are evident from as young as five years of age. Cancer survival is decreased and cardiovascular disease rates have higher mortality outcomes among patients from lower income and deprived families. Ireland is the only EU country that does not offer universal access to free GP care and charges on prescription drugs inadvertently hit those who can least afford it. Charges went up and stayed up, despite evidence that this stops many from accessing necessary medications.

Access should be based on need alone. Free GP care and free medication charges are essential but these alone are not enough; to truly break the cycle we need to address the root of the problem and the perpetuating factors. To break the cycle the Government must take a stronger role in labour market regulation. The Government must introduce collective bargaining and robust anti-victimisation legislation to protect workers. That we have to ask this of a Government party that styles itself the Labour Party is particularly worrying. Zero hour contracts give an inability to plan from week to week and certainly not longer term. This and previous governments have failed to further workers' rights.

Who are most likely to be low paid workers? Clearly, they are women, people with low levels of education, young people, vulnerable people, and undocumented migrants with many having increased health care requirements. Low pay is not good for workers, the economy or for wider society. Social transfers such as family income supplement mean that the State subsidises the low pay in some businesses. Ireland is a low wage economy by comparison with other EU countries. The minimum wage must be increased by €1 to €9.65 per hour. This might not mean a lot to the Minister and many in this House but for someone on the minimum wage it can mean the difference of providing a healthy meal for their children, being able to repair a washing machine or, under this Government, for those bullied and frightened, being able to afford to have access to water.

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