Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----in general, I agree with the Deputy that all of those who are involved in the retail sector and the security sector right throughout Covid-19 stood up and provided a top-class service to this country. They were on the front line as much as anybody else. In most cases that I have seen, that has been properly recognised by their employers. I hope that that would be the case as well.

I speak in general here, because I chair the retail forum and I discuss much of this with the retail sector on a regular basis. I always talk about the importance of looking after staff regarding training, upskilling and better conditions.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, is clear on this. We are strengthening the conditions for general workers in this country regarding the minimum wage, aspirations to a living wage, sick pay legislation and in other areas, including the extra bank holiday. This is because we are about strengthening the conditions, about making sure that work always pays and about trying to improve that every time we go along. It is therefore not a case that Ireland is behind on employment laws, because we are not.

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