Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I pay tribute to two workers concerned. To go to an unfair dismissal tribunal is not an easy journey. It can be a very challenging one for young workers. I pay tribute to them for seeing that through. On the specifics of the case, the Deputy is saying that the tips were essentially being retained or kept or were being used part of wages, which is an absolutely unacceptable practice. There is separate work being done by the Government in relation to that. In my view, that is reprehensible and wrong; if that was what transpired here.

I also should say to the Deputy that under the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, discussions are under way between trade union leadership, employer leadership and the Government in respect of collective bargaining more generally. We have freedom of association in the country under the Constitution. That governs the relationship between the employer and the employees.

It is not as simple to resolve as one might think, but serious negotiations are under way in respect of it through LEEF. Equally, in my view, employees should always feel entitled to raise issues without being punished for doing so by employers as a basic code of conduct that has to apply in employer-employee relations. If the Deputy has specific proposals in the context of labour relations reforms that are being contemplated and how they can be improved to enhance the rights of workers and facilitate the smooth operation of collective bargaining in worker-employer relations, I will certainly discuss them with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

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