Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:"(a) has due regard to Ireland’s human rights obligations to guarantee the right to just and favourable remuneration,".

I tabled the amendment because it often seems that this is a typical debate that is had between left and right on the issue of wages and that it is an insular Irish issue but this is not a typical discussion between left and right. The inequalities that have become entrenched in the labour force today are like nothing what we have seen for generations in this country or internationally. In an effort to rebalance that, we need to make sure that we have the most robust answer possible.

The inclusion of a commitment to our international responsibilities, responsibilities to which we have already signed up to as a State, would be logical to buttress the legislation and make it stronger. For example, Ireland has international commitments to a fair wage, as indicated in the commission's considerations. It was highlighted by ICTU during the pre-legislative scrutiny hearings that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the "right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring...an existence worthy of human dignity". The European Social Charter refers to "a right to fair remuneration, sufficient for a standard of living for themselves and their families". The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights declares a "right to a fair wages and...' decent living' for...[workers] and their...[families]." We are part of this process. I am sure the Minister of State would agree that this is something up to which we should be signed - therefore, let us sign up to this in the legislation.

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