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

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words. I want to start by speaking to the importance of apprenticeships to the State and the economy. It is really hard to overstate the benefits of our craft-based apprenticeship system. This applies at a macro level in terms of the quality of craft worker our apprenticeship system produces. I will hone in on issues affecting the system in due course. Our craft apprentices and workers are the envy of many other countries. These workers are trained to such an elite level they can travel anywhere in the world. I met young people who had come through the apprenticeship programme in Vancouver and San Francisco recently. They had no trouble finding work. Their qualifications speak ahead of them. They are known to be very well qualified. Our craft apprenticeship system is something we should really value. However, the fact that we are losing so many workers to other countries like Australia, Canada and the United States is a genuine worry. Their departures are enforced in many ways due to the cost of housing and rent in this State coupled with the cost of living. The result is that we are losing the craft workers necessary for resolving the housing crisis.

In addition, it is fair to say we do not have enough craft apprentices in training for the work ahead in resolving the housing crisis and delivering green and capital infrastructure projects. One of the reasons given for the difficulty attracting people into apprenticeships is the low level of remuneration during the early stages of the apprenticeship. Apprentices are excluded from the minimum wage in the early years of their apprenticeships and as a result, they are considerably less well off than young workers in other forms of employment. Apprentices tuning into this debate might think the whole world loves them. We are all love-bombing apprentices, we cannot say enough good things about them. Then they will look at their wages and wonder how much they are actually valued. Fine words cannot be spent in Tesco nor will they insulate anyone from the cost-of-living crisis. Issues like this damage the apprenticeship system across the board.

Last March, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, wrote to the Minister and expressed its view that the minimum wage exemption for apprenticeships, including craft apprenticeships, is no longer sustainable or fair, that it is counter-productive and should be abolished. Connect trade union has also pointed out that, in contrast to when the clause excluding the application of the minimum wage to apprentices was introduced into the National Minimum Wage Act, many of those now undertaking apprenticeships have already gone to college or undertaken other work. As a result, they are older than apprentices would have been previously. These are issues that must be addressed and resolved. Similar issues exist in consortia apprenticeships. For consortia-led apprenticeships, the pay is agreed between the employer and the apprentice and it can often be below the minimum wage. There are currently no available data on what these apprentices are being paid. It is an issue Sinn Féin has been raising for some time. Across both strands, apprentices can be paid significantly below the minimum wage. As well as the housing crisis, we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Apprentices are not immune to this.

In my remaining time I want to point to the significant opportunities that are afforded by the transition to green energy. The move to clean energy offers the opportunity to become self-sufficient and to create new jobs within this sector. I would add that the move to green energy should not be used as an opportunity to undermine our craft trades. Many of the jobs in this sector, while new, will still require craft apprenticeships and craft tradespeople. Granted, some of these workers may need to get a new ticket for the new type of work.

However, in many instances craft workers, with some slight additional training, have the skill set to complete the majority of this work. We cannot talk about green energy without talking about food security because an essential part of climate justice and climate action is being able to source our food close to hand. In that regard, I ask again that consideration be given to establishing an apprenticeship in horticulture. I spoke recently to growers living and working in my constituency in Fingal. They tell me there is a huge appetite but they are losing people who are going abroad where they acquire greater skills. These people are not coming back.

I ask again that the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, be given the powers to investigate compliance with the sectoral employment orders, SEOs, and employment regulation orders, EROs. The SCO and ERO rates are being undermined in the construction sector and no one at the Cabinet table seems to care. These rates are agreed with the contribution of the State and it is an insult to workers, trade unions and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when these rates are not complied with. The WRC needs more inspectors who need to be empowered to investigate compliance with the SROs and EROs.

The Minister raised the shockingly low number of women in apprenticeships. I just want to mention Sandra who was the apprentice electrician or "lady electrician" as they called her in UCD. She was blazing a trail. She believed that many more women would come behind here. That is not the case. Work needs to be done.

See this speech in context