Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I too thank the Deputies for bringing forward this Bill. I welcome the opportunity to speak on legislation that seeks to abolish the age-based discriminatory practice of underpaying workers under the age of 20. Sinn Féin has long advocated for the removal of these discriminatory pay rates. We brought a motion before the Seanad last term but it was voted down by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Sinn Féin's Senator Gavan brought a motion before the Seanad on this topic nearly two years ago. I thank him for doing that. I had hoped the Government would see sense this time around but, unfortunately, it is not doing so because it is kicking the issue down the road for another 12 months.

There is no moral or economic excuse for continuing discriminatory practices towards our young people. The gall of the Government to ask young folks to do the same work as their colleagues but receive less pay for their trouble. Young workers play a vital part in our economy and they too have day-to-day expenses, projects and saving goals, not to mention the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. Most of those young people are on lower incomes, as the Government is well aware, and we bang that drum at the Government every day. It is even more the case when those young people are underpaid. I urge the Government to remember the slogan "equal pay for equal work". Anything else is a breach of our labour rights obligations. I further urge the Minister of State to act to ensure the end of the reduced pay rates and ensure that young people are paid fairly and adequately for their hard work.

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