Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the Government's legislation programme for this session, the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018 has been prioritised. If passed, the Bill would introduce graduated speeding penalties. The law, however, is only as good as the level of enforcement relating to it. The Tánaiste will be aware that a private consortium, GoSafe, was awarded a five-year contract, reported to be worth up to €115 million, to operate speed cameras. GoSafe is facing notice of industrial action by the end of this week in a row about pay and conditions. Drivers have revealed that they routinely work nine to 11-hour shifts, most of which are spent in their vans without access to toilet facilities or a proper place to eat lunch. GoSafe has refused to implement a Labour Court recommendation which confirmed that SIPTU representatives have the sole right to negotiate with management on behalf of its members. Will the Government introduce a legal requirement in public procurement to oblige all contracted private sector contractors to fully engage with trade unions and the industrial relations apparatus of the State?

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