Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I am extremely proud to address Dáil Éireann today on International Workers’ Day to recognise the important role of workers to Ireland’s success and their value to the economy. This country, its workers and its businesses, have come through a series of deep crises over the past number of years - Brexit, Covid, the war in Ukraine and, currently, global tariff uncertainty. These crises have forced us to change and adapt how we work perhaps more rapidly and fundamentally than we have seen before in our lifetimes.

It is truly remarkable that we have done so in a climate of widespread industrial relations peace. It is a huge achievement and is something which we as a Government are careful not to take for granted.

We recognise that this stability requires open and constructive dialogue with all the social partners; effective industrial dispute resolution mechanisms; a healthy economy; and strong rights and protections for workers. There is little doubt that industrial peace in Ireland is contributing in a very tangible way to Ireland’s current remarkable economic growth and success. We have built an international reputation as a stable and open global economy with a dynamic workforce that is flexible, creative and highly skilled. A peaceful industrial relations environment helps Ireland to continue to attract foreign direct investment and to ensure people have access to high-quality jobs.

lreland’s stable industrial relations climate provides certainty for both domestic and international businesses investing in Ireland. The voluntary nature of Ireland’s industrial relations system has proven effective over many years, with generally low levels of industrial unrest. The role of the State has been to underpin a voluntarist system through the provision of a framework and institutions through which good industrial relations can prosper. This system has served us well over the decades and there is an extensive range of statutory provisions in place to provide the legislative support for a voluntary system in industrial relations.

The State provides industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms, such as the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, to support parties in resolving their differences. This is critically important for maintaining industrial peace, as evidenced by the resolution of significant industrial disputes without recourse to industrial action. The WRC and the Labour Court play a crucial role in maintaining harmonious industrial relations by providing guidance and resolving disputes. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, we will continue to support the central role of the WRC and the Labour Court in industrial relations and employment rights.

Recent employment law developments have resulted in improved conditions for workers, and this Government and my Department have driven much positive and progressive changes over the last few years. In looking back over the last few years, we have achieved a significant amount to further enhance the protection of employees. Most recently, in January, the European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Defence Forces) Regulations 2025 were signed into law. These important regulations provide that the statutory protection of the Organisation of Working Time Act is now applied to members of the Defence Forces.

The Employment Permits Act 2024 introduced significant changes to the employment permit systems in Ireland, including the introduction of a new seasonal employment permit. This is a short-term permit that will allow non-EEA nationals to work in seasonal employment for up to seven months per year.

The Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 was commenced on 1 July 2024. The Act amended the Protection of Employment Act 1977 to further enhance the protection of employees facing collective redundancies caused by their employer’s insolvency.

As Deputies will all be aware, January 2023 saw the introduction of a statutory sick pay entitlement, which marked a key policy development in Ireland. Originally for three days, the entitlement was increased to five days in January 2024. The Act provides a crucial safety net to workers who become ill. It again underscores the Government’s commitment to progressive employment law and the protection of the welfare and well-being of Ireland’s workforce.

Since the introduction of statutory sick leave in 2023, and subsequently the increase in the sick leave entitlement to five days in 2024, business owners, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, have consistently raised concerns about the cumulative impact of such measures in light of rising labour, input and energy costs. Research, including research by my Department, has shown that firms in the retail, accommodation and food services sectors were likely to be more impacted should the statutory sick leave entitlement increase from five to seven days. Following this work, and in line with the relevant legislation, statutory sick pay will remain at five days. Five days’ sick leave strikes the right balance. It gives workers income protection for five days, after which illness benefit is there to support them.

The tips and gratuities Act, which has now been in operation for over two years, obliges employers to distribute tips fairly and to prominently display their tips distribution policy. The Act provides a more secure financial foundation for workers in the hospitality and service industries. This legislation was further enhanced in December 2023 when new fines were introduced for any businesses found breaching the Act.

Other important legislation enacted in December 2022 was the EU Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Regulations 2022, which has helped change working conditions in Ireland for the better. These regulations ensure employees receive more complete information on their work, set new limits on probationary periods and offer workers enhanced rights to seek additional employment.

This Government has protected and will continue to protect workers when they need it most, for example, when they lose their jobs due to their employer's insolvency. Last July, I introduced a range of changes to employment law and company law to further enhance the protection of employees. This included greater collective redundancy consultations, expanded opportunities to seek redress from the WRC and increased transparency for workers during the liquidation process. The Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024 delivered these changes. The Act also established a new employment law review group, which will advise me on matters of employment law in accordance with its work programme. I was pleased to appoint the members of the group earlier this year, and to welcome the group officially at its inaugural plenary meeting on 4 March. My Department’s assessment of the Act is outlined in the post-enactment report, which I will lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly.

A healthy and safe workforce is a key element of our national competitiveness and productivity. Supporting the work of the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, to ensure safety in the workplace is a key enabler for this. In 2024, 34 people sadly lost their lives to work-related fatalities. It is important to recognise that families, colleagues and communities have been left devastated because of lives lost in work-related incidents. While any number of workplace deaths is too many, the figure represents a decrease from 43 the previous year and the lowest number of fatalities on record since the HSA was established in 1989. This demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction, and it is thanks in part to the hard work and commitment of the authority. There has been a significant increase in funding and in the sanctioning of staff numbers for the HSA in recent years, which demonstrates the Government’s commitment to resourcing the authority. These staff are critical to carrying out the important work of inspecting, enforcing, promoting, educating, raising awareness, increasing understanding and securing commitment across all workplaces.

Strong occupational health and safety regulations can enhance a company's competitiveness by reducing the costs associated with workplace-related accidents and illnesses. This includes lower insurance premiums, fewer legal liabilities, and less downtime. The authority provides a range of supports, tools and guidance, a call centre and e-tools such as Work Positive and e-learning. BeSMART.ieis a free online tool developed by the HSA that enables the generation of workplace risk assessments and safety statements for small businesses.

The HSA’s occupational health division will develop and deliver targeted programmes and strategies to address new ways of working. Investment in divisions like these represent a stronger longer-term State investment in good worker health, reducing workplace injuries and illnesses and improving the competitiveness of Irish businesses. Similarly, the HSA’s health and social care advisory committee engages with relevant stakeholder groups in the health and social care sectors, including the nursing unions. The committee creates a platform for key stakeholders to collaborate with the HSA in promoting and advising on best practices in occupational health and safety within this crucial sector.

With regard to looking forward and what is to come, the programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework which will prioritise, among other elements, economic and employment growth. Measures include recognising the work of the independent Low Pay Commission, ensuring fair wages while also supporting the viability of small- and medium-sized enterprises; supporting the central role of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court; promoting flexible working arrangements; and publishing an action plan for collective bargaining.

The EU directive on adequate minimum wages requires member states where the collective bargaining rate is less than a threshold of 80%, as is the case in a majority of EU states including Ireland, to establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining. The programme for Government contains the commitment to finalise an action plan the end of 2025 and I am strongly committed to working towards this with our social partners.

As part of the WRC's refocused strategic direction, it will undergo a restructuring that includes establishing a new strategic knowledge, information and advisory services division.

The new division will focus on knowledge, information and advisory services, and enhancing engagement with employers and employees to develop greater awareness of employment rights and responsibilities. The strategic knowledge information and advisory service will form an integral part of the WRC's next strategic plan, whereby the commission will increase its emphasis and focus on promoting industrial relations harmony and best practices in the State, with a dedicated service focused on education, information and best practices through information sessions, conferences and other stakeholder engagements.

On 14 April, my Department launched a public consultation to obtain the views of interested stakeholders across the wider enterprise and employment sectors on the content of the action plan. It is intended that this consultation process will help guide us on the proposals that may be included. I hope there will be a strong response from a wide variety of stakeholders. I encourage all interested parties to engage with the consultation. A strong and well-functioning collective bargaining system is an important way to support and promote fair wages, particularly in low-paid sectors. Collectively bargained agreements also play a positive role in increasing productivity for businesses and promoting the protection of industrial harmony, which is crucial to our economy.

On 10 April, my Department launched a public consultation on the proposal to introduce a new regulation to extend the late working hours exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises in order that they fully align with those provided for in regulation for licensed premises under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996. We want to ensure working conditions for young people are fair and appropriate. I look forward to receiving feedback from the consultation, which will help guide our understanding of current working conditions for young people in both licensed and unlicensed workplaces.

I am also advancing legislation to protect older workers who have a contractual retirement age below the State pension age. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 will deliver this new employment right. It will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State pension age of 66. An employee who consents to retire at his or her contractual retirement age can still do so. This element of consent reflects that many employees may want to retire at the contractual retirement age. The Bill implements a commitment included in the Government's response to the recommendations and implementation plan of the Commission on Pensions. One of the key objectives of the Bill is to bridge the income gap experienced by workers who are required to retire at an age lower than the age at which they can access the State pension. l am very mindful of ensuring both employers and employees have the time to get to grips with this new employment right. That is why I am committed to ensuring there is an appropriate lead-in time and information campaign on this new right, following the Bill's enactment. I will also ask the WRC to update its code of practice on longer working to take account of the changes introduced. The Bill completed Second Stage in this House on 8 April. I hope the Dáil and Seanad will move ahead to enact the Bill in the coming months.

In the coming weeks, I intend to seek Government approval to publish a new Bill to further strengthen the safety net for employees of insolvent employers. The protection of employees (employers' insolvency) (amendment) Bill 2025 will deliver several important changes. Most importantly, it will expand access to the insolvency payments scheme to include employees of employers who cease trading without formally winding up their business. This situation is sometimes called informal insolvency. The Bill will provide a new statutory process for such employees to apply to have their employer deemed insolvent and to recover their outstanding moneys from the insolvency payments scheme. I welcome the support for the Bill from the previous Oireachtas committee during its pre-legislative scrutiny process.

My Department engages with both employers and employer bodies to foster positive attitudes towards the employment of people with disabilities. My Department is also currently collaborating in the development of the upcoming national disability strategy. The draft strategy has five pillars, connected to various areas of life. My Department and the Departments of Social Protection, and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform form the employment pillar. As part of the strategy, which is being led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, my Department will continue to facilitate ongoing dialogue between disabled persons' organisations and employer representatives to support the employment of people with disabilities.

During my first week as Minister, I directed work to begin on the design of a voluntary code of practice to support the hiring of workers with a disability. Some businesses and State agencies already have some form of best practice procedures, and this is to be applauded. There is also a role for a code that will have a particular focus on neurodiversity, learning from excellent examples already being applied in various private sector settings. Engagement with stakeholders on this has already commenced and I look forward to the results of this work.

All of these recent and upcoming developments highlight the Government's continuing commitment to a safe working environment, fair treatment and fair wages for the lowest-paid workers in our economy. Today, on International Workers' Day, I extend my thanks to all the workers of Ireland, who hold up and support our entire economy.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Today is a day to celebrate the workers of the world. There are two issues I want to raise initially, given the day that is in it.

The first concerns the treatment of whistleblowers. Earlier today, we discussed the absolute horror of the Grace case. I acknowledge all whistleblowers and the service they have done to this country. I call for extra protection for whistleblowers. Many people I know who have come forward with goings on about which they were really concerned suffered a personal cost for doing so. That is just a fact and it is happening today and on many days. The Bill brought forward some time ago by my colleagues, Deputies Farrell and Buckley, sought to set a gold standard for whistleblowers. We really need to look at how we treat whistleblowers in this country and address the fact we do not protect them.

I am also mindful on this International Workers' Day of the workers in Intel, about whom we spoke earlier, and also the workers in Carelon in Limerick. I am deeply concerned about what is happening there. I again ask the Minister to engage with the company in Limerick. Its closure would have a devastating impact not only on the workers and their families but also the wider Limerick area.

On International Workers' Day, we take the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution workers make to the economy and our society. Since coming into office, the Minister has reneged on many undertakings that were previously given. I am really concerned that he is on the wrong pathway. There has been a reversal on introducing the living wage, paid sick leave entitlements, increasing the minimum annual remuneration for employment permits and automatic enrolment for pensions. We spoke about that in depth earlier today. All of these measures the Minister signed up to have now been put on the back burner. That is not acceptable to me and my party and it is not acceptable to unions and workers. When will those initiatives be progressed? The Government will say that global trading uncertainty means we must pause the measures. I absolutely do not agree. The Government says it is being sensible and responsible. In fact, what it is doing is the height of irresponsibility. One cannot but wonder whether these row-backs are ideologically driven. Denying a worker an adequate living wage will hardly solve the global economic turmoil.

What is happening before our eyes is a race to the bottom dressed up as fiscal prudence. Low-paid workers are faced with a cost-of-living crisis and falling living standards. Workers have never worked so hard and never struggled so much. The Government's housing policies have resulted in ordinary workers and families being priced out of the market. The number of minimum wage jobs advertised last year was double what it was in 2023. What hope does a young couple working for minimum wage have of ever owning their own home? These are people who get up early every morning, sometimes seven mornings a week. They are people who strive to make life better for themselves and their families.

Irish trade unions have consistently been champions of the working class. I have met with representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, on a number of occasions. Earlier this week, my colleague Deputy Guirke and I, along with ICTU and other representatives, participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC.

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The conference focused on the EU's adequate minimum wage directive, a critical directive for the Irish trade union movement. It is all about the State taking on an active role in the promotion of collective bargaining. I ask the Minister to ensure that the directive is implemented here and that the action plan is produced as quickly as possible. I will follow up on this at committee meetings. I implore the Minister to continue working on the action plan for the implementation of the directive. It is one of the most significant legislative measures that has come before us on union recognition.

I wish to draw the Minister's attention to the “good jobs” Bill, which has been introduced by the economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Caoimhe Archibald. That Bill aims to introduce automatic trade union recognition in workplaces with ten or more employees.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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This May Day, we come together to honour the generations of workers who fought for fairness, dignity and decent pay and to recommit ourselves to that same struggle today. It is also a day to hold the Government to account for its betrayal of those very workers. Let me be brutally honest: the Government, including the Minister, has been shamefully untrustworthy when it comes to workers' rights. Before the last election, it made promises it knew it would not keep. There were seven promises to improve workers' lives, amounting to seven broken commitments already. The Government promised seven days' sick pay, pension improvements, free HRT, hikes in the minimum wage, the scrapping of the means test for carers and the enhancement of the old-age pension and the auto enrolment schemes. I have no doubt many more promises will be broken. In August, the former Government promised double child benefit, yet it is now quietly rolling back on such promises. It is abandoning workers when they need support most.

The Government's action, or, rather, its inaction, reveals its true priorities. Instead of standing up for workers, it is caving in to big business, pandering to the wealthy and turning its back on the ordinary people. It is using the global economic turbulence as an excuse for its failures, but the truth is that its failure to deliver on promises has left workers more vulnerable than ever. It promised fairness and progress but what we in Sinn Féin see is a Government that is content to watch workers struggle, watch working families fall into poverty and abandon the very commitments it made to improve lives. While it backtracks on promises, it continues to allow employers to exploit workers through sub-minimum youth rates, low pay and insecure jobs. Ireland still ranks as one of the worst in the EU for low wages. One in five workers is paid a low wage, a shocking statistic that has remained stubbornly unchanged despite decades of empty promises from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

The Government is failing workers at every turn. It talks about creating a business-friendly environment, but what about creating a worker-friendly environment? Where is the support for those on the breadline? Where is the fight for fair pay, decent sick leave or secure pensions? Instead of fighting for them, the Government is retreating from commitments, abandoning workers to cope with the soaring cost of living, rising energy prices and a broken housing system. Let me be clear: the real scandal is how the Government is using economic uncertainty as a smokescreen, a cover for its own failures. It is using the crisis of the world economy as an excuse to turn its back on its own commitments, commitments that would have made a real difference for hard-working families. While it abandons workers, it continues to give handouts to the wealthy and corporations. It refuses to tax the super-rich, crack down on tax havens and ensure big business pays its fair share. Meanwhile, workers are left to pick up the pieces.

What about the so-called auto enrolment scheme? Sinn Féin has always supported it but the Government's approach is half-hearted and poorly managed. The Government talks about protecting retirement savings but leaves workers exposed to market volatility and a lack of transparency. It wants to privatise pensions and leave workers to fend for themselves.

The Government's betrayal is most stark when it comes to workers' rights to organise and bargain collectively. It has consistently failed to legislate for the right to unionise, outlaw the blacklisting of trade unionists and strengthen protections for workers facing unfair dismissals. While it cuts corners on workers' rights and continues to give tax breaks to developers and big business, with so many super junior Ministers it is more interested in lining its own pockets than building a fairer, more equal society.

I want to raise an issue that often goes unnoticed, namely that relating to volunteer workers. There are workers who give up their time in their own jobs and a day's wage to volunteer in organisations such as the Civil Defence, the Irish Red Cross, Meath River Rescue, and Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery. Over the past week in Trim, County Meath, which is in my constituency, I witnessed their outstanding work as they searched tirelessly for a missing person. These are the workers and volunteers who go above and beyond in their paid jobs and in their own time, risking their safety and dedicating their skills and energy to work for which they do not receive half enough credit. They are the true heroes and they deserve our respect, recognition and support. While the Government turns its back on their rights and futures, these volunteers, being selfless, brave and committed to our communities, exemplify the best of Ireland.

We have had enough of the Government's broken promises and betrayal of workers. We need a Government that will stand up for everyday people and the SMEs, not just the wealthy and powerful. We need to see genuine action, a living wage, proper sick pay, fair pensions, the right to collective bargaining and the right to organise without fear of retaliation.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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International Workers' Day is not only a time to celebrate the strides that have been made in improving workers' conditions and pay; it is also a time to reflect on the areas that need significant improvement. Sub-minimum wage rates, in particular, remain an issue. These rates mean young people under the age of 20 are legally allowed to be paid less than their fellow colleagues for the same work. These rates are exploitative of young workers, and the State should recognise the principle of equal pay for equal work for all age groups. Workers, whatever their age, pay tax, PRSI and the USC at the same rates. There is no reason discrimination should persist. This is the same generation that is particularly exposed to extortionate rents, inflation and education costs. Sinn Féin previously introduced legislation that would abolish this wage inequality, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have opposed it. I therefore call on the Government to reconsider its position on sub-minimum wage rates and put an end to the discrimination. I also call on the Government not to row back on its commitment to introduce a living wage for workers. As Deputy Guirke rightly pointed out, its excuses on this are a smokescreen.

As a representative of a rural constituency, I believe the ability to work remotely has provided an opportunity for people to live in the communities in which they grew up without jeopardising their employment prospects. This ability to work remotely brings its own challenges, such as the right to disconnect and the need for adequate broadband infrastructure in rural areas. To reflect these changing working patterns, the Minister must deliver a code of practice in respect of remote working. Such a code would clearly outline the responsibilities of both employees and employers in respect of working remotely, while also clarifying the right to disconnect. The Government must take steps to ensure this.

I also call on the Government to take the steps needed to improve the resilience of the broadband network. Three months after Storm Éowyn, I am still receiving correspondence from constituents on the lack of broadband access, and this highlights the need to improve our infrastructure, especially if the Government is serious about facilitating remote working.

Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Deputy McGuinness, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the O'Flynn family, who are guests of Deputy Ken O'Flynn.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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On International Workers’ Day, we honour those whose work sustains our communities, public services and society. As a trade unionist, I reflect on the many struggles over many years for workers' rights and fairness. I want to speak for a group of workers who are far too often forgotten by the Government, namely those employed in the community and voluntary sector. These are people who run domestic violence refuges, addiction services, disability supports, and community-based health and social care projects. They are on the front line every day delivering essential public services, yet they are treated as second-class workers, paid less, offered weaker terms and left without pension rights, despite being funded by the State. Let us call it what it is: exploitation by government design. Workers in section 39 agencies and in section 56 and section 10 services are carrying out work on behalf of the State. Many do the same job as their HSE and Tusla colleagues but are paid thousands of euro less per year. They receive no public pension. Their organisations are denied multi-annual funding and this results in burnout, high turnover and serious gaps in service delivery to vulnerable communities and individuals. Trade unions, including SIPTU, Fórsa and my union, Unite the Union, have been absolutely clear on this. The solution is not complicated: equal pay for equal work. Public money should mean public pay, and collective bargaining rights must be respected.

Instead of delivering that, the Government continues to hide behind endless engagements and half measures.

The talks at the Workplace Relations Commission dragged on for over a year. Initial proposals fell far short of pay parity. Workers were forced to ballot for industrial action once again. Only now, after sustained pressure, has there been some progress. The Government must not create a new stalling tactic. There needs to be clarity for community and voluntary organisations as to how increased costs will be funded and how the Government will ensure that workers and clients are treated fairly. Sinn Féin has been very clear. We support a pathway to full pay parity and multi-annual and sustainable funding for the sector and we believe that workers who deliver public services should not be forced into poverty pay and insecure contracts.

That is not just an economic injustice. It is a political choice made by the Government. The truth is you cannot build a strong care infrastructure or sustainable community supports on the back of precarious work. It just does not work. You cannot champion social inclusion while turning a blind eye to the exploitation of the very workers who hold these services together. If you value these services, you must value the workers who provide them. That means treating them fairly, funding their organisations properly and giving them the same respect afforded to public sector colleagues.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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It was 30 years ago that the Labour Party, while in government and supported by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, made May Day a bank holiday, but its roots go much deeper than that. The Labour Party has always stood by the trade union movement. The connection is not symbolic - it is practical, principled and rooted in the shared belief deserve power, voice and respect. The alliance has given rise to a political force that championed decent pay, safe conditions and dignity in the workplace. To this day, trade unions remain a foundational part of the Labour Party’s structure and identity. Their voices help shape Labour’s policies, ensuring that the concerns of every teacher, nurse, retail worker, care assistant, construction worker and so many more stand in solidarity and are heard at the highest levels.

As we face modern challenges like job insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, this partnership is more important than ever because when working people stand together in the workplace and in Dáil Éireann, we can build a fairer and more just society. It is time to enshrine essential workers' rights in law. These are the rights that guarantee every worker in Ireland the freedom to organise and negotiate collectively. Let us be clear that workers rights are human rights. Without strong collective bargaining laws and trade union recognition, those rights are weakened and inequality deepens. Now is the time to strengthen that bond and to legislate for the basic protections that workers in many other European countries already enjoy. No more excuses, no more delays. Let us not underestimate the real power of the EU directive on the adequate minimum wage which demands transposition into Irish law.

I would like to speak out against the outdated and unjust policy of sub-minimum pay rates for workers under the age of 20 in Ireland. A campaign on this has been spearheaded by Labour Youth activists. Right now, young workers can be paid significantly less than the minimum wage simply because of their age. This is not only discriminatory, it is unfair. A 19-year-old doing the same job with the same responsibilities and hours as a 25-year-old deserves equal pay. Work of equal value deserves equal reward. Age should not be used as the reason to undervalue someone’s labour. This policy sends a harmful message that young people’s time, effort and dignity are worthless. It deepens inequality, especially for those trying to find education, support families or gain independence. With the rising cost of living, these lower wages are not just unfair, they are unsustainable. Young people are the future of the Irish workforce. Instead of exploiting them, we should empower them. By abolishing sub-minimum wage rates, we affirm the principle that fair work deserves fair pay, regardless of a person’s age. Let us be clear – ending this practice is not just about economics but about respect, equality and justice.

Despite Ireland’s strong economic performance, we continue to have one of the lowest disability employment rates in Europe. Today, just over 30% of people with disabilities are in work. That compares with a European average of 52%. The gap is even wider for women, with only 15% in full-time employment. That is not just a statistic; it is a clear sign that our labour market is not inclusive. We urgently need a new comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, one that tackles the barriers they face and actively supports access to meaningful and sustainable work. Legislating the right to flexible working is just one example of how we can build, or begin to build, a more inclusive employment landscape. Flexibility opens doors. It is time we ensure those doors are open to everybody, including the section 39 workers who provide crucial health and disability services in our communities and who voted on the WRC proposal. That ballot will be counted this week. If the deal is accepted by the workers we cannot let it stop there. There is still work to be done. Section 39 workers are 14 years without a pay increase and there is a pay gap. As soon as the independent review of section 39 pay is done in the first quarter of next year, we must move to close that gap and put section 39 workers on the same pay as HSE workers who are doing the same job.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the Together for Public Alliance, which was outside the gates today campaigning for a public model of early education and school-age childcare. We know public childcare is about far more than just labour activation for women but we also cannot ignore that it remains a barrier for women’s equality. Across Europe, countries which have implemented a truly public childcare system have seen women participate more fully in every part of society whether it is in the workplace, education, in arts and sports or in politics. In my own constituency of Fingal West, I hear daily from families who are struggling with lack of childcare options, lack of flexibility and the impossible costs. I acknowledge the early years educators who are some of the lowest paid workers in our country. Without them, Ireland would cease to function. It is time to begin the transition to a truly public model of early years and school-age childcare. This starts with nationalising wages and paying early educators fairly just like we do with other educators in our system. They deserve recognition, fair pay and our full support.

I acknowledge everyone who provides unpaid care work. This work is essential to the way our society functions yet is often overlooked and undervalued. It is time the state steps up to properly support and recognise this vital role.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is a great honour to be here, as a relatively newly elected TD, to speak on International Workers' Day. This is a day that rings out not only around Ireland but across the world. Workers in different societies have, for many generations and over hundreds of years, had a constant fight to get their rights, whether it is in industry or otherwise. We have seen it in the United Kingdom, the US and all across the world. While that struggle may have had positive results for many in the industrial world that battle continues in other places. For ourselves, today is special for the trade unions and activists that have made huge changes to and differences in our lives.

We as a country have benefitted. For every man and woman who has ever given their time, effort and dignity to build a better Ireland, the true work, today is the day we reflect on them. Today is about recognising the value and contribution of workers, not just in an abstract way as an economic number on a ballot sheet as is often the case, but as real people, people like my family and yours, like every person in this country who has got up in the morning, sat into a car, got on a train and gone out to work, just to build a better life for themselves, put food on the table, to raise their children and make their best, not only for themselves and their family but also for their communities.

I stand before you as a TD but also as someone who comes from a working family, a family of public servants. My dad was a garda, my mother was a nurse, people who made their contributions and improved society, people who got up every day and not only worked their own jobs but helped other people to go about their lives and to make their own contributions. Nurses and gardaí are interlinked in our communities. It is the value of the people who got up in the morning, who worked late at night. My dad often was on shift work, working nights. As a family we benefitted, we got the benefits of that in our community. Ultimately that is something I have not forgotten. My wife is a schoolteacher and in many ways it is the same thing, continuing to help the people and helping their communities. That is a source of great pride for me.

Like so many people in the country, I too started working young. My first job was when I was 14 years of age washing dishes in the Springfield Hotel. I worked through my teens at other jobs, serving in shops. I worked in Boyers in town, which is gone now, I worked in Bargaintown, and in all those sorts of jobs. I worked with so many different people, people I think of today who worked in their own roles in those places. That taught me at a very young age. Deputies were discussing the importance of young people in the workplace. I saw that myself and it helped develop me into the person I am with the experience I have. Since then even as I developed after that, I worked with people in Dublin Airport and saw the value of the unions in Dublin Airport. I could see the contributions they made in an area like that, and then in the Kerry Group and Circle K. There were thousands of workers in those industries. Those are companies that I worked in. They employed thousands of people and I have seen at first hand the determination and resilience of those people and they are the people I am thinking of again today, people who I worked with.

On a wider scale, from 1921, since the Irish State itself was founded, workers have been at the heart of our success. Ireland has come a long way in the last 104 years and it has been the ordinary people of this country who have helped build it, be it in public services as my family were predominantly, or indeed in agriculture and industry. Brick by brick, block by block, this country has changed and improved. With that, the lives of our workers have improved in that same way. In the early days there was no minimum wage, no legal entitlement to paid holidays, no protections for women in the workplace. As a result of the work of unions, civil society and elected representatives in this House who preceded us, things have changed and improved.

Let me highlight some of the progress we have made since 2011. We have introduced the national minimum wage transitioning to a living wage model, mandatory sick pay, the right to request remote working and indeed the movement towards a work-life balance, which is something we have continued to strive for. It is not always easy, it does not always succeed, but companies are going that way. Even in my own lifetime working in the private sector predominantly, we have seen huge changes in the last 20 years. At the same time, the work has not finished. I know things need to be done. We need to close the gender pay gap. We must invest in more skills and apprenticeships. In this country there is a huge need for them. Workers are needed across all different sectors. We can see the real need for them and the call for increased workers across all segments of society. We must support our front-line public sector workers who carried us through the pandemic. Once again I saw it at the forefront of my own family. We must tackle different forms of precarious employment and safeguard new forms of work. There has been talk about AI in here over the last few months. What changes will that bring? The rights of workers and the positions of workers in the workplace may need to be thought of in that context because who knows which industries will be changed by some of those monumental technological changes that are coming?

When I speak about workers' rights today, I am not just speaking from theory but I like to think I am talking from my own personal and family experience. I saw the benefit of the people who went out to work; they are the people who raised me. I am very conscious of all of those people as I stand here today. Workers are not just contributors to our economy. Often that can be the way it is referenced. They are the foundation of our communities, families and all our public services, which ultimately we are only working here on behalf of.

As a TD for Kildare North, in the last few weeks we have heard the talk about Intel. Intel is based in my home town of Leixlip. It is one of the largest employers in the country. I know there has been so much talk about possible cuts. There is talk about employment numbers, and financial results for Intel. What is really strikes is the individual people who every day wonder how the cuts might come into their area and how it might affect them. That is something we are all very conscious of and I have been trying to limit some of that impact over the last while. They are the people I am also thinking about today. I want to stand up for them as a TD. I have been elected to represent them and it is a great honour for me to be able to do that. That is why I chose to speak here today on this item. I want to legislate for them but I also want to listen for them and honour them and do the best I can for the workers of Ireland and the workers of the world who have contributed so much and have made our society what it is today.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I am a bit disappointed but not a little bit surprised that the senior Minister did not stay for the full duration of the debate. He rarely does when it has anything to do with workers' rights. I wish everyone here a very happy May Day, especially those people who work here in the Oireachtas, the people who cook and clean for us, the ones who keep this place running. On May Day we celebrate workers all over the world but it is really important that we remember those people who are working here all around us.

As most people will know, I am a former union organiser. As a union organiser, I worked alongside a very brave and brilliant woman by the name of Kathleen Funchion, who is an MEP now. Some colleagues will know that Kathleen has spoken recently about her experience of coercive control. I want to take this opportunity to say to the woman I used to work with - we worked together in the union - and continue to call a comrade and a friend that we are so proud of her. We are proud of her bravery. We send her our love and solidarity not just on May Day but every day, especially today because I know today is a very special day for Kathleen, for myself and for workers.

Politics is all about priorities. Let us have a little look at where the priorities for this Government lie. Let us call it a tale of two reports. One report recommends that CEOs on salaries of €300,000 plus are going to get a pay increase. They will not be getting a performance-related bonus, nothing like that, a straight-up pay increase for people on €300,000 plus. We also have a report from the Low Pay Commission, which recommends the abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay. Young workers are currently paid less than their colleagues for the same work. They are punished for the crime of being young. They work hard and they do the same work yet there is institutionalised discrimination. Guess which report the Government is rushing to act on. Of course it is the CEOs on €300,000 plus. They are going to get a pat on the back and probably a few more bob. Young workers on sub-minimum rates of pay are being told very clearly to continue working, doing the same work as their colleagues for less money and the Government will stand over that. It is shameful. I say to the Government that we see you and we see where your priorities lie. To every worker, I would say Jesus, do not wait around for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Michael Lowry or anyone else to protect your rights. The best way to protect your rights at work is to join your trade union and be active in it. If the Government had any interest in ensuring that workers could protect themselves at work, it would introduce the right to organise, but it will not do that, only a Sinn Féin led Government will do that.

I remind anyone listening that the annual May Day march will take place this evening at 7 p.m. at the Garden of Remembrance. I hope as many workers as possible will join me, Sinn Féin, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, other trade unionists and progressive parties to celebrate May Day in our capital city.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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I start by marking International Workers’ Day and recognising workers throughout Ireland and the world and, as Deputy O’Reilly said, particularly the workers of Leinster House who make our lives so much more enjoyable as we come in every day to do our work. Lá na n-Oibrithe sona daoibh go léir.

I will talk about three specific topics within the area of workers’ rights. I will focus on collective bargaining, an area in which we are so far behind. While it is great to hear a consultation is happening, I am a bit cynical and worried about where that is going to go. I will also talk about labour displacement and artificial intelligence, AI, because AI is going to be one of the most fundamental shifts, one which we, as political leaders and policymakers, are not yet talking about in an honest and direct way. I will finally talk about the related issue of precarity. This has been such a force in eroding the quality of work that so many different areas and sectors have experienced in recent decades.

Before I get into those specific topics, today I have heard, for example, from the Tánaiste who gave an answer earlier during Leaders’ Questions in response to Deputy Murphy in the context of poor workers’ rights and low pay. He recalled a time when we had to be worried about getting jobs in the first place. He celebrated and highlighted the Government’s efforts in job creation and achieving full employment. While I fully acknowledge and recognise the work done by this Government and multiple governments in the area of job creation, his tone and comments belie to me an attitude I see across this Government that workers should be grateful to have jobs at all, as if they are some kind of kindness from employers. What he failed to recognise, and what I wish to recognise today on May Day, is that for a business to make money or for an employer to profit and simply function, they rely on the value that is produced by their workers. Without them, not a single wheel would turn. This idea that we are being done a favour by being employed at all is a sentiment which should remain in the 19th century where it belongs.

Young people today, including my own 25-year-old daughter and her peers, challenge workers’ rights in a way that will be a real paradigm shift. They are the leaders in how we think about issues like climate change, gender, sexuality and mental health. I believe workers’ rights are right up there with those issues. We are seeing a completely different attitude to the exploitation that has crept into our workplaces and is stronger than ever. It is great to hear so many colleagues raise the disparity in the minimum wage for younger people, which is only going to fuel this shift more. If the Government wants to see that revolution take hold, then please continue on the same way.

All day today we have heard messages about how the Government, if one were to believe the narrative coming forward, is the pioneer of workers’ rights. How I would describe the application of this Government to workers’ rights is kicking and screaming because we all know it is only when it is absolutely feet to the fire by EU directives or other measures that it introduces the rights we all know will benefit society. Collective bargaining is a real, clear example of this because it is something the Government is now having to act on in light of the EU minimum wage directive. Ba chóir dúinn go léir a bheith ag tacú le cearta oibrithe. Ba chóir go mbeadh muid in ann dul chun na hoibre gach lá gan a bheith imníoch faoi phá íseal, easpa chothrom na finné san ionad oibre nó faoi dhíoltas má chuireann tú gearán isteach. Faraor, tá an imní sin ar dhaoine ar fud na tíre.

We are an outlier in Europe on employment rights. Employers cannot have a veto on whether or not collective bargaining can happen. While I welcome there is now a consultation and an action plan in this regard, we have heard from the Government that it believes collective bargaining and the related obligations in the directive are met by the joint labour committees, JLCs. I absolutely challenge that because they do not provide any imperative for employers to actually recognise trade unions or effective ways in which collective bargaining can transform society. Collective bargaining will reduce income inequality and provide better working conditions and higher wages. Having a strong collective bargaining framework is a net benefit to society. We must push for it.

We know – and there was a brilliant campaign, Respect at Work, on this issue last year from the trade unions - that at the moment even organising within your workplace can lead to victimisation. People are penalised, hunted down and chased out of their workplaces for it. Minor infractions are used as a way to expel them from the workplace simply because they have been trying to unionise and organise their fellow workers. We need to see a statutory right to collective bargaining. Despite this, the "Constitution says no" message from governments for decades around collective bargaining, there is no barrier to it. The organisation I used to lead, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, produced research two years ago which clearly defined that there is no constitutional barrier to collective bargaining. While there is, of course, no constitutional right enshrined at the moment, there is no barrier to it. We need to see it enshrined in the Constitution. Tá a fhios againn faoin treoir Eorpach maidir leis seo le blianta. Tá sé thar am dúinn cosaint dlíthiúil a thabhairt d’oibrithe ina leith. While industrial relations are a balancing act, the scales are currently weighted heavily against workers.

Labour displacement is the next thing I wish to talk about because artificial intelligence is going to displace labour in a magnitude, way and measure for which we are not prepared. As policymakers and political leaders, we are not yet having the right conversations about this. I welcome that there will be a committee on artificial intelligence. I will be on that committee. Within the terms of reference, “unemployment” is referenced but “labour displacement” is a better term to use. We will see massive labour displacement across huge swathes of our workforce. If we want to be real about this, we have to look at reskilling.

One of the areas the Government must analyse is the fact that there are certain cohorts of our labour force which cannot be automated, such as nurses, carers, teachers, artists and firefighters. They cannot be automated because they bring a human element that cannot be replicated by a machine. At the same time, however, these are the very areas of our workforce which are completely undervalued, ripe for exploitation and dominated by women, and in some cases migrant women who are completely undervalued, underpaid and under-resourced in their roles. If we changed our attitude towards these professions and started to value them more and pay them better, we would see a much cleaner shift from people who want to reskill from those jobs that are in danger, such as jobs in the professional classes, to those crucial jobs in our society to provide care for people and teaching and so on.

We are so disempowered in our workplaces. The new opportunities and innovations which can help society are currently only being used for the benefit of the few. Our society owes so much more to people than simply using them until they are rendered obsolete.

The final piece I wish speak to relates to precarity. The work people do in society is more and more precarious. It highlights our lack of protection and social floor. While we associate precarity of labour with specific areas like retail and hospitality, the stark reality is that precarity has now seeped into so many areas. I have many friends in the academic sector, which is an area that has been eroded further and further. It is the same with other professional areas. Employers also take advantage of the fact that people do not know their rights well enough or do not have the time or the means to take legal cases against them. In this current climate, as often happens in times of economic uncertainty, it is workers who are the least responsible but the worse hit. When the Minister opened this session this afternoon, the first thing he mentioned was the tariffs. Of course, there is a genuine worry that there is going to be a repeat of the austerity years, pay cuts and precarious jobs because workers are always left to carry the can. Collective agreements and clear industrial relations provide stability. The goals of competitiveness cannot be an excuse to row back workers’ rights. It cannot be a race to the bottom.

The response to precarity should be better social floors, better quality jobs and a rebalancing of the social contract. Má tá sochaí uainn ina bhfuil gach duine in ann maireachtáil le dínit, caithfear dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna seo. If we want people to be able to live in dignity in our society, we need to address collective bargaining, labour displacement and precarious work. We need to rebalance the power in our workplaces instead of leaving it to the benevolence of employers to engage with and value their workers.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this debate. It provides a chance to look back on where we have come from in the past century in terms of workers' rights. It was only 130 years ago that trade unions were first recognised, and how far we have come in the rights that have been achieved since then. It is just 112 years since the infamous Dublin Lockout, led by Jim Larkin and James Connolly. This was a turning point for the rights of workers. In the 1940s and 1950s, we saw the establishment of more structured industrial relations frameworks and employment protections. In 1969, the Industrial Relations Act helped to formalise dispute resolution for the first time. In the 1970s, there was a major development when Ireland joined the European Economic Community, EEC. This brought a wave of new labour standards, including protections against discrimination and improved health and safety laws. Towards the end of the 20th century and up to today, the pace of change has been phenomenal. The 1980s and 1990s have not been mentioned here at all today. These decades saw the development of social partnerships, under my party's leadership. These comprised a number of agreements that shared the wealth and prosperity that were being achieved at the time. They also guaranteed stability and a strike-free environment that allowed the country to prosper and grow. The seeds of economic development and prosperity the like of which had never been seen before in the country were sown at that time. Social partnership was a key part of this. Key legislation, such as the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 all expanded rights around dismissal, equality and working hours. In recent years, issues such as zero-hour contracts, the gig economy and the push for a living wage have helped debates on workers' rights. As of 2024, Ireland continues to align its labour laws with EU directives, particularly in areas such as remote work, gender pay gap reporting and platform work protections.

Today is a day to reflect on where we need to go and the challenges that remain for us. It is also a day to reflect on what we have achieved over a century of freedom, with the right and the ability to make our own laws and to rule our own lives.

The social partnership era that I reflected on was when we had the development of institutions like the National Economic and Social Council, NESC. This has played a crucial role in advising the Government on strategic policy issues, including those related to labour and social partnership.

There have been a number of achievements since 2020 as well. I do not want to go into all of them but I will list some. The minimum wage has increased year on year since that time. We want to see more increases but we also want to protect businesses. Between 2020 and 2025, the minimum wage increased from €10.10 to €13.50, which is an increase of more than one third. The European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Defence Forces) Regulations 2025 were signed into law a few months ago. These regulations provide the statutory protection of the Organisation of Working Time Act to ensure that it is now applied to the Defence Forces. Ireland will, as mentioned, develop an action plan to promote collective bargaining, which, under the EU directive on adequate minimum wages, must be submitted to the European Commission by November of this year.

Statutory sick leave was introduced in January 2023. In April 2023, the Government enacted the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The European Union's transparent and predictable working conditions regulations came into effect in December 2022. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act was introduced in 2022. This obliges employers to distribute tips fairly and to prominently display their tip distribution policies. All of these were introduced by the Government.

When I think back over the past century, I think of my late mother and father who came from rural, farming backgrounds. My mother was the first of her generation and her family to win a scholarship for education, which she clearly valued. I was the first male in my family to enjoy a third level education. Most of my nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews all enjoy that choice. Contrary to what people in the Opposition might think, statistically and evidentially, we live longer, we live healthier, we eat better, we live easier, we learn more, we earn more and we are more open to the world as a country. We have cultivated culture and sports. Our society has been strengthened. Over the past century, the lives of women and children have improved, despite challenges. We are increasingly environmentally conscious and we are also one of the best helpers of others in need globally. We are a happier people. How did we achieve this? In his book, In Fact: An Optimist's Guide to Ireland at 100, Mark Henry, looking back at 100 years of democracy in Ireland, notes that Ireland's development has exceeded that of most other nations. Of course, chance played its part but there are other factors. Henry lists four factors that supercharged our success. These are: the investment in educating our people; the strength of our community bonds; the stability of our Government and State institutions; and our opening up to the world, which proved to be the formula needed to enable the country to flourish.

I also share the concerns raised by my colleagues regarding the challenge posed by artificial intelligence, AI. However, it also provides opportunities. Some of the challenges have been outlined. It is already transforming business operations, leading to job losses in multiple sectors. We are aware of this. The impact of AI is no longer theoretical; it is now happening, including here in Ireland. There have been global job and Irish losses, including in Workday which cut 1,750 jobs globally in order to invest in AI and machine learning. As yet, the real impact on Ireland is not clear but the risk is real, due to the presence in Dublin of some major companies. Regarding our specific vulnerability, in June 2024 a report on RTÉ talked about the possibility of almost one third of Irish jobs being negatively affected by AI. Our labour market is more exposed to AI than the advanced economy average at 63% versus 60%. In an article in the Business Post, Government research that the article quoted suggested that more than 800,000 jobs could be at risk over a long period. AI is an issue that should not be taken for granted. The social risks are rising unemployment, income inequality and community instability.

We need to urgently act on that, and some of the things we need to do have been mentioned. The policy priorities that are required, which the Minister mentioned, include reskilling and upskilling the workforce have been done in Ireland before. We are incredibly agile and flexible in this regard. We moved from having a broadly agrarian workforce to one of the most technologically and digitally competent ones in the world. This did not happen by accident. We need to strengthen social safety nets and ensure the adoption of ethical and inclusive AI. The partnership between the Government, businesses, educational institutions and the public worked to build economic prosperity in the past. Every sector of society, from agriculture to trade unions to businesses to enterprise, were involved.

Enterprise gets very little mention here from the Opposition benches. Workers are the engine but enterprise and ideas are what provide jobs for workers to allow them to provide sustenance for their families. We need to continue to engender that to ensure that, in 100 or ten years' time when we look back and reflect on International Workers' Day, we are in as positive position as we are now after a century of hard work.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I would like to make a brief comment. I would like Deputy Lahart to correct the record. He stated that the minimum wage had consistently gone up. Of course, it has gone up many times, as recommended by the Low Pay Commission, but it was the Deputy's party, Fianna Fáil, that cut it. It is not true to say that the minimum wage has always gone up. It was cut by the Deputy's party in government. I do not forget that and I would hope that the Deputy does not forget that either.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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International Workers' Day should be a celebration of the advancement of workers' rights; a celebration of those who have made great sacrifices to better the condition of ordinary workers.

It is also an opportunity to reaffirm our demand for workers' rights fit for a modern era. It is a day to reaffirm our demand for the Government to improve workers' rights and conditions, and especially to demand that governments are held to their related promises. Unfortunately, indications are that this Government intends to break its promises to workers.

Workers feel the pinch with the cost-of-living crisis. We are told that the pension enrolment due in September of this year is to be delayed for a few months. We are also told that commitments on a living wage next year are delayed until 2029. Increased sick leave is also delayed until some as yet undefined point. A secure retirement, being lifted from poverty and being able to take a day off when one is sick are not things that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael believe all workers are entitled to.

The ongoing global economic turbulence cannot be used as an excuse by this Government to abandon the commitment to improve terms and conditions for workers. The Government can and should support businesses through complementary measures. The implementation of a 9% VAT rate for the tourism sector would make a real difference, as would real measures to reduce the cost of energy. Sinn Féin has always called for the implementation of an employer's PRSI rebate. These are the sorts of measure that would help address the cost of doing business while also allowing delivery on the commitments we need for workers. We need to see progress on joint labour committees in the hospitality sector. While the programme for Government commits to developing well-paid careers in the tourism industry, responses to parliamentary questions indicate the Department of further and higher education as yet lacks even the concept of a plan. As a €6.2 billion sector that supports more than 250,000 jobs, the tourism sector deserves greater than sloganeering and platitudes to roll out at election time and in Government documents. It is well beyond time that this Government began taking workers and businesses seriously. If we want to increase our tourism industry, we should start with our workers.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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It is regrettable the Minister is not here. There are very few debates or discussions on workers in this Dáil and he should be here. I particularly wanted to ask him - he should come back before the end of the debate - to apologise to workers for the insult he delivered to teachers, who are a huge section of the workforce in this country. He invited somebody who was basically an anti-union billionaire who insulted workers to launch his campaign. I have not heard an apology for that.

I was also amused to hear the lecture from Deputy Lahart on how great things were for workers right now. I do not think he ever visited the picket line for Debenhams workers at Tallaght the year it was on. This is the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the Debenhams strike. I will bring home some lessons on that. They were sacked by a multinational company via email. They fought during a global pandemic, without any great help from their union leadership, during a retail jobs massacre of their jobs. It then became a battle by hundreds of mainly women workers for their agreed redundancy payments. They fought for more than a year. They put up a huge battle. There were pickets to stop stock, which could have paid for their redundancy, being taken out of the shop. There were marches and occupations of shops at Henry Street and elsewhere in Dublin, Cork and Waterford. The picket was never breached in Limerick city, for example, as it got so much community support.

What a disgrace this State has delivered to those workers. The phone was never lifted by the then Minister to stop that company leaving the country. Nothing was done to help them. Then, on 7 March this year, the High Court overturned a meagre, pathetic award the workers were given for lack of consultation. The complaint they launched at the WRC, and the award that was originally granted to them, was challenged by privileged High Court judges who took away some compensation they would have got. It is absolutely disgraceful. These workers took a complaint under the Protection of Employment Act stating that they had not been notified or dealt with and given sufficient consultation, the whole purpose of which is to allow workers time to get together to discuss how to save their jobs. That never happened. The judges turned around and said they had no great hurt or hardship from that.

As well as calling out the clear bias of the courts system, I will raise the role of the liquidators and KPMG. I am sorry I am boring the Minister of State, but this is actually important. Opportunist liquidations have happened in this country previously. They happened at Clerys and others. Will the Government legislate to prevent it happening again? The Debenhams Bill is there. It was moved by my colleague, the former Deputy Mick Barry. It can easily be passed, even if the Government makes amendments to it. The Irish subsidiary of Debenhams was saddled with all the debt. It was an opportunist liquidation. We should prevent that happening again and put workers first in any future liquidation process. That Bill will go to the enterprise and trade committee, if the Government wishes it to. We need to say that this should not happen again. I note that the housing tsar will keep his salary but, in this country, the workers are always last.

I will also mention that we are now in a new phase of capitalism. Whatever Deputy Lahart thought about the past, reforms are gone now. We are getting into a tariff war where the aim of the broligarchy will be to make workers pay. We have billionaires at the helm in the White House. Workers' interests will be last, as they will unfortunately find out. There has been a shift of wealth to the top. The share of wealth by workers internationally has constantly gone down. In 2013, for example, it was 48% and in 2023 it was 32%. There is vast wealth but more and more of it is leaving workers. The trade union movement needs to make itself relevant again, to borrow from Donal Trump's phrase, and represent workers in this situation.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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It is a shame that the Minister is not here. I hope he is listening. I do not know whether he or the Minister of State is doing the sum-up and reply at the end. I have some questions for him.

This morning, I asked what interactions the Minister had with Michael O'Leary, who launched the former's election campaign, since taking office. I have just received the written answer, and the interesting thing is it states he has had no "official" interaction with him, which raises some eyebrows. I listened back to the tape of our engagement earlier and the Minister said he had no interaction with Michael O'Leary "in connection with any of my work". That leaves a very big question for me about whether that means he has met him unofficially and is covering it up. We know that Fine Gael and this Government have form on this. Michael O'Leary had a secret private dinner with Paschal Donohoe in February 2022 when the latter was Minister for Finance. It was not disclosed under lobbying laws and was not listed in the Minister's diary. Apparently, Fine Gael Ministers and Michael O'Leary just enjoy one another's company. Companies as well, perhaps. The reason this is relevant is Michael O'Leary lauded Peter Burke as the man who had to be in to "get shit done" on behalf of enterprise. This Government has pushed a pro-Michael O'Leary and pro-big business agenda, accelerated in the past number of weeks, at the expense of workers.

I also asked the Minister this morning, and the Taoiseach later on, about the Government's scandalous decision to abandon the abolition of sub-minimum wages for young workers despite the clear recommendation of the Low Pay Commission that they be abolished. The Minister's excuse was that, if young workers were not paid less than the minimum wage, they might leave school early. It is apparently out of concern for their future prospects that caring bosses pay young workers as little as €9.45 an hour for doing the exact same work as anybody else. If they got €13.50 an hour, they would drop out of school, apparently. That excuse was examined and addressed by the Low Pay Commission and dismissed.

5 o’clock

Another excuse we heard from ISME at the Oireachtas hearings last year was that:

... to give a 16-year-old an adult wage without clear guidance and support, which is not an employer's job creates poor money habits. They usually lack bills and expenses, and may favour gratification before learning how to budget, save and create sustainable spending habits.

Therefore, if they got €13.50 an hour, they would blow it all on gratification, heaven forbid. Bosses are now concerned about young workers moral development as well.

A third excuse was that employers would not employ as many young people if they had to pay them the full minimum wage and - I am not making this up - that that would be bad for youth mental health. So we have early school leaving, self-gratification and mental health all put forward as excuses for keeping sub-minimum wages. Of course there is no evidence for any of this. These excuses are, to put it plainly, complete nonsense. They are all excuses that the Low Pay Commission examined. The Low Pay Commission commissioned the ESRI to do a report and went through each of these excuses, knocked them down and said there was no basis for this based on international evidence. For example, the UK used to have a lower rate of minimum wage for those under 25. That was abolished and it had zero impact in terms of these measures.

The reason the Government and employers are tying themselves up in knots to come up with ridiculous excuses for keeping sub-minimum wage rates is that the EU directive on adequate minimum wages requires sub-minimum rates to be "in pursuit of a legitimate aim". Under EU law - the Low Pay Commission is clear on this - reducing business costs is not a legitimate aim. The problem is that the Tánaiste must not have got this memo because when I asked him about it during Leaders' Questions earlier, he said the quiet part out loud. He gave an answer for keeping sub-minimum wages that was all about reducing business costs. That is an illegal justification and the Tánaiste should withdraw it. In February, the Minister of State said the Government would decide on this after the economic impact assessment. Now it does not even have an economic impact assessment and it is already withdrawing it. It should stop the excuses and set a date for abolishing sub-minimum rates.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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Sonas Lá na Bealtaine oraibh. I am very proud member of SIPTU and have been a union member and representative all my working life. I commend the unions represented in Leinster House today promoting the benefits of union membership. I was also happy to stand with the early years childhood groups in calling on the Government to honour its pre-election promises to the sector. Trade unions pay an important and progressive role in Irish society. They are to the fore in defending the interests of working people and their communities. They played a central role in many political campaigns, including the campaign for divorce, marriage equality and a woman's right to choose. They took the lead on the right to water and the Raise the Roof housing campaigns. I urge the unions to work with political parties and reorganise the Raise the Roof campaign. We urgently needed an active and vibrant housing campaign demanding an end to the housing emergency and homeless crisis.

I carry two very important membership cards, my union card and my Sinn Féin membership card. Both have represented me very well. The needs of working people continue to change from the Dublin Lockout in 1913, the Irish Glass Bottle workers strike of 2002 and the Debenhams lockout of 2020. We are still in battle with the powers that be, both inside and outside the Dáil.

The European Union directive for adequate minimum wages is a step in the right direction. It will require action from Government to make it a reality for workers in Ireland. It is also key for workers to have access to their trade union representatives at work. A trade union organiser or official must be allowed to enter the workplace and meet their membership without threat or intimidation. We must have the full transposition of the EU directive into Irish law. This must include strong incentives for collective bargaining and the publishing of a roadmap on how to achieve the 80% trade union coverage outlined in the directive. To date, the Government has failed to show how this will be achieved. Instead, relying on current legislation has led only to 30% coverage. This clearly shows that the Government is treating the EU directive as some sort of add-on. It is not an add-on and we cannot accept this nonsense.

In 2018, the Government promised that it would review its own decision to not allow workers to access extra hours at work. The review has never happened. This issue has led to severe hardship and poverty for low-income workers. It is also being used by some unscrupulous employers as a union-busting mechanism. One practical step the Minister should take to improve the life for workers in Ireland is to transpose the EU part-time workers directive into Irish law. Workers have waited 20 years for this to happen. This would enable part-time workers to access full-time hours when they become available. On this International Workers' Day, I urge workers to ensure they are members of a union and I urge the Minister to transpose this directive into Irish law as soon as possible.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank all the Deputies for their contributions today. It is an honour to stand before the House on International Workers' Day, a day dedicated to recognising the invaluable contribution of workers across Ireland and the world. As Minister of State with responsibility for small business and retail, I acknowledge and celebrate the hard work, dedication and resilience of our workforce, which forms the backbone of our economy and society and is the core of Ireland's competitiveness.

Ireland's stable industrial relations climate and low levels of industrial unrest provide certainty for both domestic and international businesses investing in Ireland, making us a competitive and attractive place in which to work and invest. The programme for Government sets out a strong commitment to economic and employment growth and competitiveness. The Government is committed to supporting workers by recognising the work of the independent Low Pay Commission, supporting the central role of the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court, improving the employment of people with disabilities, promoting flexible working conditions and arrangements, and also publishing an action plan for collective bargaining.

The Minister, Deputy Burke, has previously outlined a number of improvements to employment rights that the Government continues to make. My Department has already started a body of work to fulfil our commitments under the programme for Government. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I are advancing legislation to protect older workers who have a contractual retirement age below the State pension age. The employment contractual retirement age Bill 2025 will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State pension age of 66. The Bill implements a commitment included in the Government's response to the Pension Commission's recommendations and implementation plan. An employee who consents to retire at their contractual retirement age can still do so. This element of consent reflects the fact that many employees may want to retire at the contractual retirement age.

The Government's wider objectives are to make the pensions system sustainable in the face of significant demographic change and to improve the adequacy and predictability of retirement income. One of the key objectives of this Bill is to bridge the income gap experienced by people who are required to retire at an age which is lower than the age at which they can access the State pension. The Bill contains limited exemptions, including retirement age set by law, and allows employer to objectively justify the application of the retirement age by reference to the individual employee.

I am very mindful of ensuring both employers and employees have the time to get to grips with this new employment right. That is why I am committed to ensuring that there is an appropriate lead-in time and information campaign on the new right following the Bill's enactment. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil in early April and I hope the Dáil and Seanad will move ahead to enact it in the coming months.

Remote working has also become a new norm for many employers and employees in the wake of the pandemic. The right to request a remote working arrangement was commenced under the work-life balance Act in March of last year. My Department will review the operation of the remote working provisions of the Act later this year as required by the legislation. The work-life balance Act also requires a review of the flexible working provisions of the Act currently available to parents and carers.

This part of the Act is under the remit of the Department of children, disability and equality.

The protection of employees Bill 2025 will ensure workers of employers which cease trading without formally winding up will be able to recover moneys owed to them from the insolvency payment scheme. The Minister, Deputy Burke, spoke earlier about the legislation introduced in July last year, providing for the establishment of the Employment Law Review Group, ELRG. It was convened at its inaugural plenary meeting last March. Its work programme, which was determined by the Minister, in consultation with the ELRG has been published on the Department's website. It contains three items which the ELRG will review, namely the determination of employment status, a review of the Unfair Dismissals Act and a review of notice periods in the minimum notice of the terms of the Employment Act 1973. I was pleased to meet the group at its inaugural meeting earlier this year and wish Professor Michael Doherty the very best in his work, along with all of its members, in progressing the this important work.

A strong and well-functioning collective bargaining system is an important element in the economy. It supports and promotes fair wages, in particular in low-paid sectors. A number of Deputies have raised this topic today. Collective bargaining agreements also play a positive role in increasing productivity for businesses that promote the protection of industrial harmony, which is crucial to our economy.

Officials in my Department are working to develop an action plan to promote collective bargaining which, under the EU directive on adequate minimum wages, must be submitted to the EU Commission by November of this year. The Minister, Deputy Burke, recently announced the launch of a public consultation to obtain the views of interested stakeholders on the content of the action plan and we want to ensure that the working conditions of young people are fair and appropriate. Therefore, my Department has launched a public consultation on the proposal to extend the late working hour exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises so that they fully align with those provided for in the regulations for licensed premises under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996.

We will also see developments such as the implementation of the EU pay and transparency directive and the introduction of a pension auto enrolment system, which is a commitment in the programme for Government and a key priority for the Minister for Social Protection. Every worker in Ireland is entitled to a safe working environment and every employer is legally obliged to provide a safe working environment. There is a strong legislative regime in Ireland to underpin that obligation and protect workers in terms of work-related health and safety.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the great work undertaken by the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. I had the pleasure of meeting its chair, CEO and board members yesterday to discuss how they support employers in Ireland. My Department is collaborating with the Department on the upcoming national disability strategy and we will continue to facilitate ongoing dialogue between disabled people's organisations and employer representatives to fully support the employment of people with disabilities.

The Government has shown continued commitment to strengthening and protecting workers' conditions, fair treatment and fair wages for workers. However, as Minister of State with responsibility for small businesses and retail, I know it is also important that we acknowledge the challenges the enterprise sector has faced over the past number of years. We are conscious of the impact of these measures on businesses, in particular as they are managing rising prices, supply chain issues and the increasing need to adapt to a digital and climate transition.

My Department carried out assessments on the impact of legislative changes, including a statutory review, published in March 2024, of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act. Most recently, we carried out research on the impact of the statutory sick leave provisions.

It is clear that over the past few years the Government has taken significant and proactive steps to improve employment rights, provide additional protection and establish better working conditions for workers. These initiatives, as well as numerous upcoming developments in 2025 and beyond, underscore the dedication of the Government to fostering a fairer and more transparent workplace and supporting the workers of Ireland. On International Workers' Day, let us celebrate the crucial role the Irish workforce plays in our nation's competitiveness and success.