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

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015. I also welcome the debate on this Bill. While there are more measures I would like to have seen in this legislation, as an Independent Member I will always look at each Bill in the context of how it is presented in the Dáil and in broader society to decide on its merits. If I believe it is good for workers or for the people, I will support it. The bottom line is I will be supporting this legislation. I commend the Minister of State on his work in this whole area. The bottom line for me is that it is sensible legislation, protecting the rights of workers in difficult and harsh economic times and in which some employers are hostile to their rights.

For too long, Irish workers have been pushed around and exploited. We have to stand up to protect them. Last Saturday, I attended the protest against Dunnes Stores and I support the Mandate workers on the zero-hour contracts issue. People need to wake up and support these workers as many of them are our neighbours, friends and families. I also welcomed last week the Minister of State’s strong support for these workers. It is important the Minister of State responsible for labour issues goes on the record to support workers in such cases. I know from talking to many of the staff on the ground, many of them friends of mine, that they really appreciated the Minister of State’s stance. It is important this issue is not politicised in a party political way. If people are exploited, they should be supported, regardless of their political background as it is a justice and equality issue. I speak as a former branch secretary in the INTO, the Irish National Teachers Organisation, and a delegate to the Dublin Council of Trade Unions for many years. I have had strong contact with many of those who will be affected by today’s legislation over the past 20 years.

We also know the reality of modern Irish society. Reform will come slowly and concessions will have to be given. The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, as presented, is progressive legislation. I accept it is difficult for the Minister of State. As Deputy Halligan said, one does not always get everything one wants in coalition. At the same time, I accept this is a positive development in the industrial relations field.

When one digs down deeper into the legislation, one sees the Bill aims to reform the system of registered employment agreements and provides for a process of registering employment agreements on an individual enterprise basis but also on a sectoral basis. The Bill will also introduce reforms on the right to engage in collective bargaining. It will amend the procedure under which trade disputes are brought before the Labour Court in circumstances where collective bargaining is not practised.

The bigger picture is often missed by many of our colleagues, however. This Bill is also part of a package of employment legislation to counteract the weaknesses in existing employment legislation. These include the minimum wage (amendment) (low pay commission) Bill and Workplace Relations Bill 2015. The reality is that there has been a marked increase in industrial disputes between 2014 and 2015. In the first quarter of 2014, there were just two disputes involving 178 workers, resulting in 310 working days lost. However, in one year, this has increased with disputes involving 27,588 workers and 24,056 working days lost. This attempt at reform and the protection of workers is positive.

Outside of legislation, if one looks at good practices in SMEs, small and medium-sized enterprises, where workers are treated with respect and given a decent wage, productivity is usually high. I have many friends who employ between three and 15 people in SMEs. They have close relationships with their staff and pay them well. They get it back in productivity and growth in their businesses. Employers need to cop on and listen to what is going on with labour legislation such as this Bill. They should not see it as a threat against their businesses as some of them seem to do. There are ultra, right-wing conservatives on top of some businesses who do not seem to get this. It will cause them more grief in the end. They need to open their minds. Even if they do not like trade unions or do not want to negotiate with their workers, the bottom line is they will increase productivity and growth if they do.

It is also important to broaden this debate to include the public sector. We have seen the hammering public servants have taken over the past eight years from right-wing conservatives who present themselves as commentators without any electoral mandate. I will remind them that over the past several years, public servants have implemented many workplace reforms. Productivity has been boosted by additional workplace hours. There are new shared services and the redeployment of staff.

They have had a 10% reduction in their numbers and their sick pay and annual paid leave were reformed. There was average benchmarking between 2002 and 2006 of 8.9% and this was wiped out with pay cuts. There was no benchmarking award in 2007. Many public servants have delivered reforms and shared services despite 10% cuts. It is important we say this during the debate.

To return to the legislation, it is important that we focus on the low paid workers whom Deputy Halligan mentioned. The grave injustice they face is a new issue in Irish society. They are caught between deciding whether to take a low paid job or stay on social welfare whereby they know they will be able to put food on their table. Families are getting caught in the poverty trap. It is sad that in 2015 some 138,000 children live in poverty and the number in consistent poverty has increased from 6.8% to 11.7%. People such as Dr. Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, is concerned that 37,000 children will be living in poverty in 2020. At present, 1,054 children are homeless. We need to target resources to these people. I jump up and down here speaking about children in poverty, but the figure of 138,000 can be tackled. It is not out of control. If we could focus employment and social welfare resources to target these people first, we could then move on to deal with the other injustices in society. We need a clear strategy.

We hear debates on the radio about Independents speaking together. When we do so, we speak about poverty, protecting the rights of workers, educational disadvantage and services for people with disabilities. We can work very closely together on these issues, even though we might come from very different backgrounds. The bottom line is we are big and bold enough to sit down and hammer out real issues on which we can agree. I hear smart alec commentators stating it is not a cohesive group, but when it comes to come serious issues such as unemployment, low pay, poverty, disabilities and education we have a group of Independent Deputies who will roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. This is why people are looking in our direction for the formation of a Government. As we all know, we must get elected first and this is what is most important.

The legislation is positive. The Minister of State will probably die of shock, but I commend him on the work he has done on it. As an Independent Deputy in opposition, if somebody in government does something progressive we should support it and I welcome it.

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