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

In the past week, we have seen serious disruption to transport with at least 350,000 people discommoded because of the actions of the Ryanair boss. I am very interested to see that there has not been a word from this House about these levels of disruption when one would think the sky was going to fall in when there is a strike in Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus. There has not been one word on what is going on in Ryanair. When are we going to see legislation before the House to protect workers' rights and bring them up to European levels where the courts have ruled that Belgian pilots are entitled to have their grievances heard in Belgium rather than Dublin because labour laws here are so lax? When are we going to see protection for workers who endure bogus self-employment contracts and have no access to trade union recognition? When will the Government challenge the likes of Ryanair, whose boss it has sitting at its pre-budget dinners and eulogises as one of the most decent businessmen in the country? When are we going to deliver some rights for workers to undermine this absolute abuse which is causing massive disruption to transport?

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