Seanad debates

Thursday, 8 October 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Susan O'Keeffe also raised the issues of housing and homelessness. She commended Lidl for being the first major employer in Ireland to adopt the living wage, one week after the living wage forum of the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Gerald Nash. It is welcome that a company that employs 3,800 staff will adopt the living wage of €11.50 per hour. A total of 20% of staff will receive a raise in line with this policy from 1 November. I hope more employers will follow suit. Both the Minister of State and the Tánaiste have welcomed this development.

Senator Paschal Mooney referred to the issue of trade union recognition. I heard Mandate's response. It has members working for Lidl. The Government is bringing forward legislation to meet an important commitment to collective bargaining. That is welcome in the area of trade union recognition. Too little was done by previous Governments on the issue in response to the Supreme Court's decision. We have had debates on it in the House.

With Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, the Senator also raised an issue about the cervical cancer vaccine. I welcome his indication that his party will formulate a motion on the issue. As a parent, I am wary of scaremongering about vaccinations. I do not say any Member is doing this, but, in general, we have to be careful when contesting the issue of vaccination or any vaccination programme without serious medical evidence.

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