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

I am very grateful for an opportunity to speak to the Bill before it progresses because there are an awful lot of issues surrounding this. For instance, I want to remember members of the public who were adversely affected by FEMPI and marched on the Dáil, whether it was in regard to pay restoration or their pension rights and pension restoration. People who were adversely affected, and who paid a very dear price for the wrongdoing of others, had to struggle through very lean years.

I remember also front-line workers and the putting up of posters and ads on television and the praising of these people. Instead of paying them, the Government was praising them. I continuously condemned that practice in the House because it was wrong to be coming out with silly ads telling people how great they were while at the same time not recognising their work by paying them properly. We have a situation where there are people working in healthcare who have not received an increase in 12 or 13 years. If one considers the high cost of fuel, heat, electricity, rents, mortgages and childcare, one can see these are the people who have really been struggling over the last number of years. I know the Minister is acutely aware of that. He is an excellent representative for his own constituency and a good, sound, solid person and always has been. He recognises what these families are struggling with and going through at present. Do people realise how costs have increased? People's electricity bills have doubled in the last number of years and that is putting a tremendous strain on them. We have an awful issue at present, namely, fuel poverty. That is why I am so adamantly and strongly speaking against elements of the climate action Bill which are going to make those families struggle more and more. That is why, when we are talking about this Bill and elements of it, we must think about restoring people's pay to try to see if they can keep up with the commitments they have. We need to look at the increase in childcare costs and how much they have gone up in the last number or years. Do I blame the people providing the childcare? Absolutely not. Their costs have gone up. Their rents have gone up. The cost of providing the service has gone up enormously for them so they must pass that cost to the young family who are starting out and entrusting their children to the providers' excellent care. Therefore it is not the providers' fault but the combination of the high cost of living. If we look at where we are going as a country and at the massive increase in the price of steel and timber at present, what is that going to do but drive rents up further?

I must mention a group of people who were thrown to the wolves in a desperate way. It would be awfully wrong not to mention them in the context of this debate because we are talking about pay, public sector pay and people's rights and entitlements. I refer to the Debenhams workers who had to stand in the cold and rain, 24 hours a day, for over 400 days on a point of principle. There was a group in the town of Tralee, for instance. I want to remember every hour those Debenhams workers gave and how kind they were. When their own battle was lost, they were concerned about other people and ensuring no other person would have to go through what they as workers had to go through with their employer. The words "Debenhams workers" will be ingrained in people's minds and memories for many years for the respectful way they fought for what was rightly theirs, namely, their own money which they were entitled to but did not get. That was so wrong. I do not want to delay. I thank the Acting Chairman for this little opportunity.

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