Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Committee Stage of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016, a Bill which Sinn Féin is proud to support. It seeks to provide collective bargaining rights for freelance workers who are self-employed. As it stands, work places are increasingly being populated by freelance staff unable to bargain collectively with their employers, regardless of whether those individuals are unionised. My experience as a part-time musician, full-time musician and as a graduate and worker in film and television production informs my belief that although this legislation is not an organising tool in itself, it will greatly strengthen the ability of those in the arts and other sectors to collectively bargain. Many young people face appalling low pay and no-pay jobs and are incredibly vulnerable across work places on this island.

The erosion of workers rights and unionising impacts greatly on young people. This is a really important legislation. I commend the work of Senators Bacik and Nash and the union movement, members of which I welcome to the House.