Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The questions this morning about unemployment struck a chord with many of us, particularly Senator Mary White who spoke about competitiveness. It is interesting to look at what the founder of O'Briens Sandwich Bars said yesterday in Cork. He said that because of regulations that were passed during the good years — he referred particularly to the National Employment Rights Authority and its regulations — he has had to close a number of his sandwich bars in Ireland. There are 136 such bars but he has had to close a number of them because he is forced to pay double time to employees who work on a Sunday.

I do not understand where this regulation originated. Perhaps in the good years it was possible to provide for the highest minimum wages in Europe and to tell employers they must not employ people unless they pay them double for Sunday work. This man could employ 60 more full-time employees if these regulations did not apply. I do not understand how we can insist on regulations continuing in force when we are inhibiting opportunities to create jobs. Senator Mary White and Senator Coffey asked that the Tánaiste be invited to the House to discuss what she is doing about jobs. One option is to dismantle some of the regulations we introduced in previous years in order to create more jobs now.