Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody who has contributed to this debate and those parties and Independent Members who have indicated their support for this motion. In the view of the Social Democrats, this motion is very important. It sets out clearly the weaknesses in our employment protection provisions which give rise to the kind of low pay and poor conditions which, as a modern society, we simply should not tolerate. It also proposes means by which to address these weaknesses.

The Minister of State spoke about the true picture of Ireland. I will tell him what that is. It should be a matter of shame that almost one in four workers is low paid and struggling to survive in poverty. It should be a matter of shame that such a significant number of our workers are in insecure employment and do not have access to the statutory entitlements many of us take for granted. How does one survive without an entitlement to sick leave, for example? The answer is that one does not survive and ends up either going to work while sick or not being able to pay one's rent or other bills. How does one operate when one does not know the hours one is expected to work from week to week or even from day to day? How does one plan childcare or arrange other activities outside of work?

The truth is that we are becoming an increasingly two-tier workforce. On the one hand are those in established secure employment with decent pay and conditions, while on the other hand are a growing number of predominantly younger lower-paid workers in precarious conditions with limited protections. The absence of collective bargaining and the denial of the right to representation in the workplace have undoubtedly led to this situation.

Before the election, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions appealed to all parties to commit to including a specific paragraph in the programme for Government which would ensure an enhanced focus on creating good jobs and protecting workers' rights. It is incredible that not one of the three parties in government regarded this issue as sufficiently important to include in the programme. Not only that but, on examination of the programme for Government, it is revealed that there is no reference at all to workers' rights, collective bargaining or the right to representation. It beggars belief that the section entitled, A New Social Contract, says nothing about workers' rights. The section, Reigniting and Renewing the Economy, does not say anything about workers' rights either and, bafflingly, no reference to workers' rights is to be found under the heading, Social Dialogue. One really has to ask whether anybody in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Green Party is remotely interested in workers' rights.

The commitment requested by ICTU was a short paragraph, which is reproduced in our motion. It is taken from the New Decade, New Approach document drawn up by the Irish and UK Governments to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, which was accepted by all five main parties there. That document commits to an enhanced focus on creating good jobs and protecting working rights. Parties to the agreement "agree that access to good jobs, where workers have a voice that provides a level of autonomy, a decent income, security of tenure, satisfying work in the right quantities and decent working conditions, should be integral to public policy given how this contributes to better health and wellbeing by tackling inequalities, building self-efficacy and combating poverty."

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and then Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, actually negotiated that document and called it a fair and balanced package. Where is the Minister tonight? Where are he and his Government colleagues who said we should support these rights in Northern Ireland? How can they not do the same in the Republic? Do people in Ireland not deserve the same protections as those in the North? Is there no recognition on this side of the Border that these rights are integral to a fair and equal society which rejects the normalisation of inequality and poverty? Does this Government believe that only applies in the North?

The motion before us tonight is about workers' rights. It is a disgrace that at no point in the Minister of State's contribution did he engage on that issue or use the term "workers' rights". We strongly appeal to Government to withdraw its meaningless amendment, honour the resolution it itself drafted, show respect to workers, and support the motion proposed tonight. I strongly commend the motion to the House.

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