Dáil debates
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
Companies (Protection of Employees' Rights in Liquidations) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members]
10:50 am
Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source
I commend Deputy Barry on bringing this important Bill to the floor of the House. I had one thought when I listened to some of the speakers but it was more pronounced when I listened to the reply from the Government side.
If this Government was a doctor, I would be very frightened. If I arrived into a hospital with a broken leg and my doctor was the Government, I would be told that it would look at my leg in 12 months. That does not make sense. I cannot believe what we are listening to. This has been going on for years. These are human beings. This is about workers' rights but the Government is talking about kicking the can down the road again and having a review. About what are we to have a review? Hundreds of people have lost their jobs, including many whole families. They have visited my own constituency office. The Government will be scratching its head in a couple of weeks or months when it is probable that a tsunami of other businesses will go to the wall and it will be saying "Jesus, we are back in the same position again. What are we going to do?" It will probably just suggest another review and see if the person's other leg is broken. That is what is coming.
While speaking about the Debenhams workers, I also want to touch on all those other workers who have suffered for years. I remember the Vita Cortex dispute in Cork. Nothing has changed. The Government is not learning from its mistakes. I cannot understand why it cannot work with the people on this side of the House. We are supposed to be here to represent the people of this country. We are talking about workers' rights, civil liberties and people's livelihoods and families. The Government should do the right bloody thing for once. It should withdraw its amendment because it makes absolutely no sense. It is an insult to the working people of this country. I appeal to the Government once more. It should do the right thing, work with the people on this side of the House and do it right.
No comments