Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This time last year the issue of flat-rate expenses for certain workers was a hot topic. The Government backed away from it because of the intense media coverage it received. The matter in question is back on the agenda now. One group of workers that will be massively impacted upon if changes are made is the 600 miners at Tara Mines in Navan, the largest zinc mine in Europe. These workers carry out extremely dangerous and hazardous work. Unfortunately over the 40 years of operations, some miners have lost their lives in the process of extracting ore. Their flat-rate allowances allow for the reimbursement for special creams and other items used in the course of their work. I ask the Taoiseach to address this issue and to state whether he believes these workers should be supported by the State in the context of their entitlements. I invite him to visit Tara Mines, as some of his predecessors, including Brian Cowen, have done, to see operations for himself and to meet the miners.

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