Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That was an excellent report from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and I advise the Minister to read it. This is not the first time this morning that questions were posed on Fine Gael's commitment to modest adjustments to Ireland's sick leave regime. I note the Minister did not give me a straight or direct answer earlier. It would provide some reassurance to workers across the country if he were to restate this morning the commitment that has already been made to introduce broader sick leave arrangements. They are modest proposals. They barely bring us into line with countries against which we like to compare ourselves, as I said earlier. These are not radical reforms. They are modest reforms, the kind any decent society should be proud to introduce. The Minister has the opportunity here to restate an already pledged commitment. That is all he would be doing. He should not break his promise to Irish workers.

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