Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

For example, we will not hear Deputy Dowds or the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy White, telling the nation that nearly 12% of Irish children are living in consistent poverty, while 18% are at risk of poverty. By the age of 13, one in three Irish children will have experienced a mental health difficulty, and this figure rises to two thirds by the age of 24. Half of mental illnesses emerge before the age of 14. Some 15% to 20% of Irish nine year olds experience significant emotional or behavioural problems. One in four Irish children are overweight or obese. If things do not change, it is predicted that by 2030 some 7.5% of the population will have diabetes.

Ireland invests just 0.4% of GDP in early years services, which is well below the OECD average of 0.7%. Those are the reasons why I am putting forward an alternative view. That is the reality for children in Ireland in 2015.

The current trend to damage workers' rights and pensions has been completely ignored in the spring economic statement. Dunnes Stores workers are being driven into the ground. We have seen zero hour contracts and other low-paid conditions. I am also told that industrial action is pending at the Cadbury-Mondelez factory in Coolock, which is in my constituency. It is all about outsourcing the electrical department in that factory. Outsourcing means that electricians would no longer work for Mondelez, but for a contract company. They may also have to work at other locations. If employees refuse to transfer to the new employer, they are deemed to have resigned.

Furthermore, as they would no longer work for Cadbury, they would no longer be active members of the pension fund and would lose future benefits. That is a major loss of conditions. Their employment terms and conditions would be transferred, but they would come under attack after a relatively short period. The electricians in Cadbury feel they are being backed into a corner and have no choice but to strike in defence of their jobs. They have made it clear to management that, alongside other groups, they are prepared to negotiate a change programme, but they cannot negotiate with a threat to their very existence as employees. No one likes to negotiate with a gun to their head. This dispute can be resolved by the removal of that threat.

Recently, I heard the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, talking about the urgent need to flag problems in factories via an early-warning system. I urge the Minister to examine the sensible proposals emanating from staff, including the electricians. They have even sought funding for an independent expert so that they can engage in consultation with the company. They need to know what the story is concerning the books in Coolock and what is going on there.

More involvement is required by Government agencies which should focus on the potential for saving the plant, rather than dealing with it when the plant goes, and they move production of the Time Out bar to Poland where the company can avail of cheap labour and more exploitation.

I wish to ask the Minister for Finance about the issue of transferring production of the Time Out bar from Coolock to Poland. Under European legislation, companies operating in more than one EU country are obliged to engage in a consultation process if they wish to transfer production from one location to another within the EU. This process is to allow for possible counter proposals, as well as affording employees an opportunity to understand fully the facts and explore ways to prevent such a transfer. The Minister should tell Cadbury to get involved and work closely with the staff.

In the broader debate, I wish to deal with issues concerning people with disabilities over the past four years. There have been unprecedented cuts to supports that enabled people to live independently. These include the mobility allowance, motor transport grant, benefit allowance, medical cards, home help and the respite care grant. I call on the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to restore the respite care grant in the next budget. That is a sensible, positive and constructive idea.

It should be recalled that this Government tried to scrap the personal assistance services, but reversed that decision when disabled people turned up at the gates of Leinster House. At an international level, the Minister should implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If the Government does not restore the respite care grant, it will be in breach of article 19 of that convention. I am raising these matters because we have a chance to fix them if we have a few extra million euro in the budget.

There are currently 27,256 people with intellectual disabilities in this State. Of that figure, 2,271 are seeking residential places. Some 197 are now seeking day-care services, which is not a huge figure. Those who are considering lashing out more tax cuts to the big fat cats in society, should look at that figure as a small start. The respite care grant and day care services could be restored tomorrow morning with a bit of vision and leadership.

People with disabilities have played a vital role in Irish society. We are missing thousands of such people in society generally who have great talents. I meet with them regularly.

In regard to their IT skills, if we do not use them we will not be able to address the problem of unemployment. I do not expect the Minister to accept all of these proposals but he has an opportunity now to consider the areas of health, disability and the protection of workers' rights.

I urge the Government to keep a very close eye on the Cadbury factory because if there is a slow winding down of that company and an attempt to provoke staff into industrial action so that it can pull another stunt, there will be a need to act cautiously. As far as I know, and I am open to correction, that factory in Coolock makes €400 million a year, which is enough to pay the staff and take on extra staff.

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