Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the Members who have contributed to this debate. I thank those who contributed not just at our own joint committee but also, as was pointed out earlier, the members of the previous joint committee who held the hearings on this issue. They did the heavy work in their hearings. I thank Deputy Joan Collins who was able to bring that together working with Mr. Jack Savage and who produced the recommendations of the report that we are discussing. I want to acknowledge the work done by the former Cathaoirleach of the committee, Senator O'Loughlin, as well as the members of the last committee. We took over that work.

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy English, said earlier that both Departments are looking at the 13 recommendations set out in the report. Six of them have been completed and four are now under way. However, the legislative proposals that we have tabled are vitally important. That needs to be addressed. We are seeing a change and shift in work patterns in this country. We will bring forward legislation on remote working. Surely that could be used as a vehicle to help expedite some of this legislation. This is not about creating a bureaucratic system for people who are genuinely self-employed. As the Minister of State, Deputy English, pointed out, 340,000 people are self-employed in this country. However, as Deputy Boyd Barrett highlighted earlier, there are big employers who have received, or are receiving, substantial funds from the State, yet they have no employees whatsoever. It is about getting that balance right. It is about addressing emerging areas like platform working.

On foot of our report, not only did we refer it to the Department of Social Protection and to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, we also passed on a copy to the Committee of Public Accounts. The Committee of Public Accounts is following through on that within its own remit. We are looking forward to the completion of the Committee of Public Accounts hearings, as well as to the publication of its report. Once its Chair, Deputy Stanley, has published that report, our committee will then consider what elements we need to progress from that particular point in time.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this debate. I thank those who facilitated this debate. This is an issue that the committee will be revisiting in the future.

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