Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

The Bill is quite complex and technical, and it is important that the State protects workers. I take this opportunity to reaffirm a core principle that has always guided Sinn Féin, namely is our commitment to standing with workers. Throughout our history, we have been to the forefront in the context of workers’ rights, fairness and dignity in the workplace. For too long, workers have been left vulnerable, especially in times of crisis. When a business becomes insolvent, it is not just about profits or corporate failure; it is about people - families, communities, lives - being thrown into turmoil.

This is not just about recent cases or the present. For decades, workers, particularly the lowest-paid and most vulnerable, have called out for support, fairness and justice from the Government. Time and time again, low-paid workers have been on the front line. Those working in retail, hospitality, cleaning and other essential sectors have protested and demanded that their voices be heard. They have faced the pain of losing their jobs, their livelihoods, and their dignity when their employers went into liquidation or simply abandoned their responsibilities. However, it is often overlooked that these workers have consistently called on the Government to stand with them, protect their rights and ensure they are not left behind. For years, workers have protested on the streets demanding support and fair treatment and that those who profit from their labour do not walk away without consequences. They have called for better protections, fair entitlement payments and the security they, as workers, deserve. Time and again, Sinn Féin has stood shoulder to shoulder with them, advocating, fighting and demanding that their voices be heard. Our history has been one of standing with workers. We have supported low-paid workers when they called for fairness, staged protests and demanded justice. We have championed their right to fair wages, decent working conditions and protection when their employers abandon their responsibilities.

The cases of Clerys and Debenhams are stark reminders of how corporate greed and mechanisms such as tactical liquidation have been used to avoid obligations to workers. More than 1,000 people at Debenhams lost their jobs overnight. Their redundancy and other entitlements were wiped out because the company sought to evade its legal obligations. These workers, many of whom are low paid, have faced hardship and despair because their Government failed to protect them when they needed it most.

We acknowledge that the Bill is about ensuring that even if a business ceases trading informally without going through a formal liquidation, workers can still claim their unpaid wages and entitlements from the insolvency payments scheme. It is about justice, dignity and making sure that those who have worked hard, often in low-paid jobs, are not left to suffer alone when their employer walks away. For decades, these workers have been calling for support and for the Government to stand with them on the front line in their struggle. Fairness should never be limited by outdated legal technicalities. It extends protections to the most vulnerable, including sole traders and those facing gender discrimination. We have always championed the rights of the lowest paid, whether through advocating for fair wages, better working conditions or stronger protections against exploitation. We have always believed that legislation must prioritize workers’ rights, especially during their most vulnerable moments when a company is in insolvency.

Let me be blunt. The Government has too often failed those who need support most. Promises to increase sick pay, raise minimum wages and end discriminatory pay practices have been delayed, broken or ignored. For years, low-paid workers have protested and pleaded for support, yet many remain without a safety net.

Insolvency is driven by rising costs - costs the Government has failed to adequately address. The cost-of-living crisis has left many families struggling, while Government policies have long failed to deliver on promises to improve living standards.

Sinn Féin’s alternative budgets and policies aim to address these injustices by supporting a real living wage, introducing fairer tax structures and protecting workers’ rights at every turn. We will continue to call for laws that enshrine workers’ rights, ensuring they cannot be denied their rightful entitlements. We will stand against practices like fire and rehire, bullying and exploitation. We believe in genuine collective bargaining and empowering workers and their unions to negotiate fair terms. We will never forget those who have called for support and been left behind.

This Bill promises that when businesses falter, the lowest-paid workers will not have to bear the burden alone. Sinn Féin has long stood with workers, particularly those who have protested, organised and called for justice, to fight for a future in which dignity, fairness and justice are fundamental rights for all. We will support those who keep our economy moving, our communities thriving and our future bright. We, as legislators, have a duty to stand with them now and always.

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