Alex White (Labour)

For this person to suggest to the Government that it should consider such cuts when he has been the beneficiary of such largesse, the extent of which we do not yet know, seems extraordinary.

Today the Irish Congress of Trade Unions sponsors a very important event called the world day for decent work. I wish to mention it briefly to the House because while such days come and go and frequently they do not mean much, this is important in the current context of the banking crisis. The notion and principle of regulation have been dirty words for two decades. However, they are suddenly back in vogue in certain quarters. Aer Lingus announced today its intention to chop off, as it were, whole sections of its operation, replacing reasonably well paid jobs with what inevitably will be lower paid jobs. In those circumstances, it is timely that we should draw attention to the fact that approximately 200,000 people in this country earn less than €10 an hour. That is the reality of what an army of low paid and low skilled employees are facing. Senator Fitzgerald was right to call for a debate on unemployment but we must look to see what we are talking about in that regard. It is not just a notional issue. These are real people who face real challenges in terms of living their lives on low pay and without much hope being offered to them by the Government. We should have that debate.

Everybody is now coming around to the view held by those on these benches that regulation is something that should be examined again. I ask the Leader to outline what will happen in respect of the different Bills that have been agreed in the transitional agreement recently agreed with the social partners? I refer to legislation on employment rights, temporary agency workers, employee representation rights and all of those areas that are vitally important for employees, workers and taxpayers. When will that legislation be brought forward?