Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I congratulate Senator Gavan and commend the support of the those in the Seanad. I welcome all of those in the Visitors Gallery. The hospitality sector is a tough area to work in. We know as public representatives something of what is involved in dealing with people but it is extremely tough, however, in the food and drinks industry. I have listened to many contributions. Sometimes we work on scripts but not tonight.

I was taken aback by some comments in the Minister's opening contribution. I found that some of it was derogatory towards these people who get up early in the morning, go to bed late at night and try to work everyday with a smile on their faces. They are trying to provide for their families. Many people within the industry work very well together and there is a common sense approach to tips. I will refer to one of the earlier quotes from the Minister. She said the Bill provides that "a collective agreement in relation to tips should prevail over any provision of the Bill that conflicts with it but it fails to set out any parameters" blah, blah, blah.

It is a common-sense approach. The Minister has come in with details of technicalities on whatever the Low Pay Commission has stated. She has blamed Fianna Fáil and the Green Party for this, that and the other. This is about giving people back their tips. It is very simple. To some of the people working in this sector, tips are their bread and butter. These tips are what normally feed and clothe the people within the industry, taking into account the austerity we have faced in recent years and the impact of many of the great policies brought in by this Government in the housing and the rental sector. These tips are necessary because the wages are so low. The people who work in this sector are depending on these tips.

The Minister of State can laugh at whatever comments have been made on this side of the House but I believe that this Bill is about doing the right thing, having a common sense approach and giving back to the people that deserve it. The Minister of State will be well aware that this weekend the Ironman event will take place in Youghal. There will be a major dependency on the hospitality sector in east Cork to cater for that event. The hospitality and tourism sectors go hand in hand. We have a great reputation worldwide. Those of us in this Chamber did not build that reputation; it was the people that work in this sector, which is difficult to work in.

I have heard other comments about the Government having a plan. These plans always seem to emerge after solutions have been put on the table. A solution is very different to an idea. A solution has an end product. I appeal to the Minister of State to come on board with our Bill for the benefit of the people, these workers who are on the lowest possible scale of the wages in this country. The Government, however, has made another decision based on technicalities or recommendations. I love the word "recommendations". They are sometimes the idea or opinion of someone else. We are not working on opinions tonight. We are working with the facts and statements from people that work within the hospitality sector. That is what we should be taking on board.

The Minister's contribution mentioned something to do with unions. I was taken aback by that also. It referred to many of the workers in the sector not having trade union representation anyway. That was said as if it was just a dismissive aside. That does not matter. These people have feelings. They need to pay bills. That is what this is about and it goes back to the Bill. This initiative is about giving protection to the employees. I genuinely feel that the majority of employers take the common sense approach. I am well aware of it because we all know people who work in the hospitality sector. There is a fabulous idea in operation in the area. The tips are normally received by the people on the floor who serve the food or the drinks. A chain of events, however, leads from the cleaner to the chef upstairs on to the waiting staff, etc. All of the tips, therefore, are gathered in one pot and then divided out among all of the staff. It is a reward for being a team player. It would be a travesty if the Government does not change tack and come on board to support this Bill and workers in this country.

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