Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The proposed Bill will impose an administrative burden on employers, including those running small businesses. They will need to manage the deduction and remittance of trade union subscriptions, maintain open lines of communication with employees in trade unions or potentially face legal consequences. Not only will this increase the cost of doing business here, it will also push up the cost of goods and services. The high cost of living and housing in Ireland exacerbates the challenges for workers. While nominal wages have risen across most sectors, in reality most workers are experiencing real wage reductions due to higher prices. I wish we were discussing employers and the people giving employment out there today. For the hospitality sector the increase in VAT and the minimum wage has pushed some people over the edge. Pubs, cafés and restaurants throughout the country are closing but there is no sympathetic ear from the Government. Government members have completely blindfolded themselves. The Taoiseach more or less said to me a couple of weeks ago when I raised the issue of cafés that most of them were going to go anyway. That was an incredible statement to make when these businesses are struggling because of the increases in VAT and the minimum wage. They cannot cope, cannot keep the door open and cannot put it on a plate.

As Deputies McGrath and Healy-Rae just said, there is sick pay, exit days, people are entitled to more days off, and there are more bank holidays. All of this is put on top of the employers who are trying to keep their businesses afloat. We have little or no sympathy in this country for employers but that is where our focus needs to be today. We should not be putting extra costs and difficulties on them. I also have grave reservations about this Bill.

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