Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This time last week, the Chamber passed the sectoral employment order for the construction industry without debate. The order emanated from a Labour Court process, which was undertaken over the past few months and involved the Construction Industry Federation and construction trades unions coming together to engage on a proposed sectoral employment order that would introduce basic minimum terms and conditions and a 10% pay increase for 50,000 construction workers. That is supported by construction trades unions and the major construction employers' body. Earlier this week, the order was passed by the Dáil , as is required under legislation, without debate. I implore the Leader to make contact with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to implore her to sign that order urgently. There is nothing preventing her from doing that straightaway.

Under the legislation I introduced in 2015 to provide for sectoral employment orders, the orders have to go through a process. This order has gone through that process and it has scaled all the legislative hurdles in the way. It is, therefore, up to the Minister to sign it and to ensure the pay increase for 50,000 construction workers is introduced without further delay. This is something the key employers' body in the construction industry wants as well. I ask the Leader to urgently contact the Minister on behalf of the House to sign that order and give it statutory effect without further delay.

It would be remiss of me not to offer my condolences to the family of the late Eamonn Campbell. He was, at least in the public mind, a legendary Dubliner but, in fact, he was a proud son of Drogheda and a very good friend of my family. He had a close connection with my late grandfather who was also a musician of some renown. I want to put on record my condolences to the Campbell family, in particular, Jacko, Frankie, Emma Jane, Niamh, Ciara and, indeed, Eamonn's wife, on their sad loss. Eamon was a great character a tremendous musician and somebody who many Members met over the years. He has a remarkable legacy in Irish music.