Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

There are far more able bodied people working who have a low rate of work and get equal pay, and we can do nothing about that. It is up to managers to ensure their workers produce as much as they can. To make this distinction is totally unacceptable. Organisations dealing with people with disabilities totally oppose this measure. While I understand what the Minister is saying, I totally object to it. It will not help people with disabilities. If the Minister of State is saying that employers will take on more people with disabilities because they have to pay them less as they produce less, it is not the type of equality people with disabilities want.

Senator Quinn is a very good employer of people with disabilities. I doubt very much if he pays them less than other members of his staff. If the legislation is passed, I doubt very much he will avail of the opportunity to pay people with disabilities less, which is what the Minister of State is providing for. As it is completely unacceptable, I ask him to take time to review the issue and reconsider his position.