John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is a major day for workers who are engaged in precarious employment. It is a momentous day and it sends a powerful message to workers engaged in low-paid precarious employment. Full credit has to go to the workers in Dunnes Stores, some of whom are in the Visitors Gallery. They stood on the front lines, went to the Workplace Relations Commission and took on Dunnes Stores and challenged the company.

It is nearly four years to the day since Sinn Féin brought forward legislation to deal with this issue. It is timely that we get it across the line today. There are too many people to thank and to congratulate, but it is a major occasion.

We need to see the end of zero-hour contracts and this should be the start of that process. There was a lengthy debate and conversation on bogus self-employment. Commitments have been given in the House. The next area of focus should be to deal with bogus self-employment, which is endemic throughout employment in the State. The Minister, the Government and the House need to take on that challenge. It is the next big challenge in workers' rights and entitlements.

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