Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to speak to this legislation, which is welcome. I salute all the workers in hospitality and across a range of other services, some of which may not be as visible, including those in the taxi industry and in transport and across the whole spectrum. They have had a torrid couple of years. We all appreciate that.

This Bill relates to tips for employees. People always give tips in good faith. It is an Irish thing. It is voluntary. Most employers pass on tips and look after their employees. A number of us here are employers ourselves. Many employers have good relationships with their employees and look after them kindly and fairly. It is important that this legislation roots out the employers who would dream of taking tips or service charges to which the front-line workers who look after us are rightfully entitled, as are the back-house workers, which I think a few of us never recognise. Tips go to receptionists and chefs and the people we do not really see. Most institutions share tips with their staff. Most of the time I spend in hospitality is spent when I am at work here, in the capital city, and in all the many institutions I have stayed in I have met only the best of people. I am speaking only for myself. Others can speak for themselves. These staff look after us. At present I am staying in the Martello Hotel in Bray, and the staff there are exemplary: kind, caring and helpful in every way. I thank them for that because there is no place like home, as we know, and the Martello is like a home from home. That goes for everybody from the receptionists right through to the kitchen staff, the house staff and the bar staff.

The campaign that was led a few years ago against a restaurant down the street had to be led when we see the money that was spent on doing up and revamping that premises. Then we saw unsavoury treatment of staff. It happened, but I am glad Members tabled Private Members' business relating to the matter. I know that these are difficult and challenging times for employers, but when people decide to give tips they must be passed on. The difficulty is how cash tips kept and not passed on are dealt with. That is not dealt with in the Bill. Yes, electronic tips can be traced and maybe dealt with.

There has been mention of the WRC and so on, but to go down that road is very unwieldy and a very slow process. Maybe it has to happen, but I would prefer goodwill and respect to prevail, and respect works both ways. If the employer gives respect, he or she gets it back in spadefuls from the employees.

The Rural Independent Group supports this legislation. I hope that its passage will make a change to the unscrupulous employers who behave in a bad way and that the relationships ordinary employers and their staff have fostered will continue.

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