Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

When I spoke earlier I made reference to the correspondence from the Irish Congress of Trade Union which gave examples of how €203 per week would represent a cut of two-thirds in household income for some workers' families and a 50% cut in income for other workers' families and so on and I contrasted it with the position that exists in a number of other EU countries where there is a far greater guarantee for working people and their families in this crisis than is being offered by the Government here. This is a key issue.

On the issue of a charge on the Exchequer, the amendment does not direct that the Government take any action other than produce a report within a week on what the terms of a workers' guarantee might be. I do not think that asking the Government to produce a report imposes a charge on the Exchequer. I would argue that the amendment should be taken on board. This is a key issue for working people and their families.

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