Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would not be the first time I wandered but the Ceann Comhairle might bear with me because I was angered greatly by the Member from People Before Profit making that statement and not coming back here. It does relate to workers' rights and workers being treated badly. I do not mind. We all say things here for which we might have to make an apology. I would certainly do so if I said so but it was very wrong to do that. I had been talking to individual owners of trawlers and the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, whose CEO, Patrick Murphy, had contacted me to try to rectify that situation and the wrongs done to foreign workers on their fishing vessels. Then I heard the complete opposite, as if it was the fishermen and owners of the trawlers who were committing these wrongs, which is totally untrue and unfair.

I will not take up all my time because I might wander a bit more. I will support this Bill and any laws that will strengthen the rights of the worker in a fair way. However, we must always remember when we pick on anyone, it is always the employer, who cannot take much more pressure because they are under severe pressure with payments and are trying to be as fair to workers as they possibly can. We must find a very fair balance here. The Government and the Rural Independent Group will work together to try to find that in the amendments we have put forward to find a fair balance.

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