Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too declare that I am an employer for a long time - 41 or 42 years now - and I appreciate the right of Solidarity-People Before Profit Members to bring forward this Bill. However, it is a phoney Bill because we do not appreciate the workers and the people out there. They take an ideological stance and I accept that; it is their right. However, they do not understand or respect employers. They are the first people to arrive at a picket of an employer and support people despite it being a good employer. Work is a two-way street. In our business, which my son runs now, we great employees and we respect them. It is a two-way street. Deputy Paul Murphy mentioned working at 12. There was nothing wrong with anyone working at 12 when we were going to school but that is not allowed now. We have more legislation, rules, and guidelines and it diminishes young people's right to get the feel for work, which I do not think Deputy Paul Murphy ever got in his life. I do not know if he would sweep the floor. Maybe he would.

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