Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a grand, popular, populist idea by the Labour Party and I do not begrudge employees anything that we can give them because they deserve as much as we can provide. Where will the money come from, however? I register the fact that I am a small employer myself. Small employers are under fierce pressure. In my county, we depend on small employers to a great degree. We do not have oil, gold or diamonds and if we did we would not be allowed to drill for them anyway. Small employers are struggling with rules and regulations, insurance costs, the cost of Covid rules and the reduced income and trade that most employers have at present, and many struggle to have the cash to pay employees on Friday, with payday coming around quickly. Trade and business is slow at present. As well as employees, we must stop to talk about employers too, especially small employers, and we must do as much as possible to help them because they are the people who pay the employees. We have to work hand in hand with them. People are missing such things as home help and carers. I remind Deputy Kelly that the Labour Party cut women's pensions by a third in 2012. The Labour Party should be looking to restore that and repair the harm it has already done.

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