Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is studiously avoiding my contention that casual employment is a serious blight on our society. The changes introduced by the Tánaiste, in the absence of affordable child care and of legislation enabling lone parents to seek extra hours, represent the deliberate pauperisation of a section of society. The CSO has revealed that the overwhelming majority of lone parents are either in work or are actively seeking work. Legislation needs to be introduced to enable such people and others, including the Dunnes Stores workers who have gained the sympathy of the nation for the scandalous manner in which they have been abused by their employers and their hours have been used to denigrate them, put them in very precarious situations and - as Mandate has said - exercise control, to access extra hours and have a decent standard of living. I understand that the Government is required by an EU directive to introduce such legislation. Therefore, I am a little surprised that the Government has no plans to make changes in this regard.

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