Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I support this amendment. Leaving aside the politics of the issue, the essence of the amendment is desirable. We know there is a major problem in this country in bogus self-employment, most predominantly in the construction industry where it is estimated that in excess of 100,000 workers are in that category. It is an issue in other areas such as, for example, haulage and pilots have been mentioned. I also refer to the trend towards the gig economy, where employers refuse to take on the responsibilities of employing staff. They are leaving to swing people who are desperate to get employment and to earn an income but who can only do that under the terms set out for them by their employer. Increasingly, they are precarious terms. That leaves the State at the loss of many hundreds of millions of euro in tax income and leaves workers in precarious positions in respect of job security, entitlement to sick pay and social security generally, as well as taking huge risks when it comes to workplace accidents and so on, not having any sick or injury cover.

There is nothing to recommend allowing many people continue in the category of bogus self-employment. It needs to be called out for what it is, a scam, and it needs to be ended. Everybody has been aware of this growing problem for a long time in certain industries. It is time to call a halt to it and to legislate against it. People have spoken about Private Member's Bills, legislation or amendments they are in the process of bringing forward or have brought forward. Be that as it may, there are principles involved here. We should all be united on outlawing this practice. The Minister spoke very strongly about the need to tackle the problem yet, as Minister, has brought forward no proposal whatsoever in this area. We can all say that we could do a better job or will do something else in six months' time but there is an opportunity to do something now.

We know how hard it is to complete a Private Member's Bill, get time for it and see it through to its conclusion without the Government trying to stymie it along the way.

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