Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the public sector workers and pensioners who have come to the Gallery for this debate. I note also the absence of members of an Páirtí an Lucht Oibre - which translated loosely means the party of the working people - who are not here at all. Perhaps they are busy licking their wounds after the Jobstown verdict today. They are absent from the Chamber during a debate on an issue that very much concerns working people. This should be noted. I also want people to note the very low attendance at this debate. We would not be having this debate at all if were not for Deputy Boyd Barrett, who represents us on the Business Committee and who insisted that the renewal of the FEMPI legislation be discussed.

Under the legislation, all that is required of the Minister is to come back every year before the end of June to tell the House whether or not FEMPI is to be renewed. Extraordinarily, the renewal of this legislation is not voted on. It just gets through on the say-so of whichever Minister happens to be sitting across the House at the time. Members vote on the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act each year. We voted on it last week. We do not, however, get to vote on FEMPI but I will table a motion that it should be voted on. At the Business Committee and with the Taoiseach during the week, there was quite an argument to the effect that we should not take a vote on a motion in that respect. We must ask why this is so. It is because it is very sensitive and crucial legislation. It is draconian and unfair. It attacks one sector of the working population in the State consistently every year. It is being pushed as emergency legislation outside of an emergency; it is the longest duration for emergency legislation in the history of the State. Is it not extraordinary that we allow this legislation to remain in force in such a manner, without even a vote on it?

I would like to say, however, that I am somewhat surprised at Sinn Féin. I understand Fianna Fáil being as blueshirt in its approach to workers as the blueshirts themselves are, but I am surprised at Sinn Féin's attitude-----

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