Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have reservations about this legislation. I understand and respect the bona fides of Teachta Joan Collins but as a small employer running a family business employing up to 25 people, I know the relationship between workers and their employers is very important. We see so much going on today with big businesses. I also accept the bona fides of the Minister of State but there is a front page story in The Irish Times today about a care company called Ideal Care Services which got €8.9 million from the State. TUSLA has uncovered a major scandal there involving bogus employment and falsified Garda vetting and God knows what else. What is going on with the State that it is paying this kind of money to companies, through the HSE, that are involved in downright abuse and blackguarding of workers and abuse of the Garda vetting process? The Garda vetting process is valued by everybody but this rogue company allegedly, according to the newspaper article, abused the system. TUSLA has prepared a report on it and The Irish Times has seen a copy of it. There are many cases like that throughout the country.

Ordinary employers cannot and should not be penalised. We must value SME owners who are trying to put bread on the table, feed their families and themselves and ensure they have a good record with their employees, which the vast majority do. Deputies talk about globalisation and it is the big global employers that abuse workers, put them under appalling pressure and give them very few rights. We have brought in more legislation here in the past couple of years to crucify small employers and businesses. We have new bank holidays, more sick pay, domestic violence leave and so on. Who is going to pay for all of this in a small business? Business owners cannot afford to pay and we must conduct impact assessments on any legislation we pass here. We are downright killing the spirit of the people out there who want to provide jobs for themselves and others, have a good relationship with their employees and support their local communities at every turn. We have to make hay slowly and the jury is out on this Bill.

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