Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will try to finish in that time.

I welcome this Bill. The Labour Party is the party of work and it is correct that a Labour Party Minister of State would ensure good working conditions for people. I congratulate him on the work that he has done in this regard, which has been welcomed in the trade union movement. It is important the Bill progresses through the Houses as quickly as possible and is put into practice. It is also important that how the legislation works in practice is carefully examined so that any necessary change may be undertaken. I am sure the Minister of State will work on this issue.

Deputy Naughten is leaving the House, but I would be interested in the Minister of State's response on the question of how the non-Irish companies that win contracts fit into the process as outlined in the Bill.

In the world we live in, workers are under much greater pressure because it is easy for people to move from one jurisdiction to another. As such, it is important to ensure that people in this country have good working conditions, pay and so on. There are situations in which pay and conditions have been undermined. In some logistics companies, for example, lorry drivers who have been working for considerable lengths of time are on much better hourly rates than others who have joined, often from other countries. It is important there are equal conditions, given what is a growing problem not just in Ireland, but throughout the EU. It is also important we tackle issues like zero-hour contracts and the race to the bottom. In the Dunnes Stores dispute, for example, people are on low pay, have uncertain weekly hours, etc.

In parenthesis, I would like to see major cuts in USC for low and middle-income workers in the next budget. However, I am happy to see high levels of USC for those on higher incomes.

I understand from my conversations with the Minister of State that this Bill will help people like the Dunnes Stores workers who are dealing with companies that refuse to engage with trade unions and workers directly. The Bill's final provision addresses the question of vulnerability. It is important that this provision be implemented.

The types of practice that we are seeing wreck people's lives in a number of ways. Family life is difficult if people are uncertain as to when and where they will be working. If income levels are uncertain, how can people provide themselves with accommodation? The Bill contributes towards an improvement in workers' rights.

I welcome the fact registered employment agreements, REAs, will be reinstated. These will give groups of workers and employers covered by them greater certainty, including about pay and conditions, and strengthen the hand of trade unions in negotiating on behalf of those whom they represent. It is a pity the old system was overturned, but it is good it is being replaced.

Turning to the sectoral employment order section of the Bill, this relates to trade unions, workers or organisations of employers requesting the Labour Court to examine the terms and conditions relating to the pay and pensions of a class of workers and to make a recommendation to the Minister on the matter. This is a welcome development. I note that there is a let-out clause in that employers can request temporary derogations. I hope that such derogations relate to important issues, for example, if a company is going through a bad financial patch and, therefore, cannot pay the correct amount at the time but will stick to the negotiated agreement as soon as it exits that bad patch.

I welcome the amendment to the Unfair Dismissals Act relating to victimisation, which is a problem in the workforce from time to time. Before the whistleblower legislation and this Bill, whistleblowers were vulnerable. We saw it in the case of Sergeant Maurice McCabe and the Garda. I am aware of one or two cases in which people lost their jobs because they stood up for what was right. It is correct that there be legislation to protect such people.

I wish to say something to the Minister of State and whoever follows in his shoes: it is important that we try to-----

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