Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When I heard yesterday evening that the Government parties would not support the Bill, my first thought was that they had not read it. The Bill states clearly that any work of an essential nature would be exempt and it would be up to the Government to make the call. The Government would be obliged to define what is deemed to be essential, whether that is overnight or 24-hour care, continuity care and so on and it could add or subtract to the list as it wished. The Minister of State has scraped the bottom of the barrel when it comes to excuses to not support the Bill. I was scratching my head as to why he could not last night but his opening contribution was a giveaway.

The context of the legislation is a status red alert announced by Met Éireann, which means there is a risk to life and a danger is posed to people by a weather event and they are urged not to travel. Unfortunately, we witnessed tragedies and the fear and confusion among people, particularly workers, regarding whether they should go to work and, if so, how they would get home during the two recent storms. The Minister of State said, "Employers already have a duty to ensure the safety and health of persons at work ... to ensure, so far as is reasonable, the safety and health of their employees while they are at work." He knows fine well - as does the Government - that the issue for people is getting to and from work, which is what the Bill addresses in order that workers are not penalised because they cannot attend their place of work due to a status red alert.

I have only been a Member of the House for two years. While it is not surprising, it is disappointing to encounter other Members who do not have the courage of their convictions. The Minister of State said, " Indeed, industry will argue that the Bill will adversely affect a company’s productivity if unnecessary closure of businesses occurs". However, the legislation relates to a status red alert during which Met Éireann tells people not to leave their homes because they will be putting their lives at risk. I wish the Minister of State and Fianna Fáil had the courage of their convictions in this regard. He uttered one classic comment in his opening contribution which is right up there in the context of grasping at straws. He said:

The Bill does not address an employer's right to keep his or her business open, especially where food production and supplies are concerned. Indeed, in the case of food distribution preventing workers from delivering food in circumstances where it has been determined that it is safe to do so may exacerbate food shortages giving rise to loss of perishable foodstuffs and, in extreme circumstances, could give rise to social unrest.

Who wrote that? Is the Minister of State referring to the rush to buy bread during Storm Emma as social unrest? You could not make this up. I will hand over to Deputy Cullinane because I have little tolerance for sheer incompetence and people not having the courage of their convictions to say why they are opposing the Bill. During the recent storms, the Minister of State and the Government called for every measure covered under the provisions contained in the Bill. Perhaps Deputy Cullinane will have more patience than me to deal with this.

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