Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are absolutely miles away compared with many other European countries. We need to start making these moves very quickly. I do not necessarily agree with every single one of the recommendations that were made, but we need to start having that discussion here and broadening it out. I respect the fact there must be discussions with the Commission, but I would like to see some domestic focus on this in order that we bring in as many voices as we possibly can. We can see the disparity. There is a value to every worker in terms of money, not just in terms and conditions but in terms and conditions as well, in being a trade union member. What we have now, however, is a State where trade union membership is in decline for various and many reasons. There is an onus now to bring that coverage, by collective bargaining, up to 80%. That will be a challenge. The quicker that work gets under way, the better for everyone, and I mean the better for all the people who are desperately waiting on it because they want to see the bonus that comes from being a trade union member in their back pockets.

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