Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the beef issue, as someone who tried to organise that sector for the best part of two years and will miss the debate next week, I would like, if I may, to make two points now. First, Jim Power, with whom I do not usually agree, made the point that we do not know the profits in the beef industry because a number of the key companies are private unlimited companies. Second - I say this hand on heart - any time we tried to secure a decent rate of pay in those factories, the workers concerned were sacked. The beef factories are gangsters. I speak from first-hand experience. It is a pity that the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, did not work with SIPTU at the time it was trying to organise. It is a pity for all of us, particularly the sector.

This morning, I attended an impressive presentation by early years professionals, highlighting, once again, the appalling plight of our childcare workers in terms of low pay and insecurity. Thousands of them have to sign-on each summer because they only get 38 weeks work. One in two of these workers is leaving or planning to leave the sector. The attrition rate is 25%. One can imagine the impact of this in terms of care and continuity of care. This is the third year in a row that they have asked the Government to introduce a living wage such that every worker in the childcare sector would get that wage as a minimum. I welcome that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, has publicly supported that proposal. The ball is now in Fine Gael's court. This can be done. Sinn Féin has costed it in its submission for the upcoming budget. It can be easily done. What is lacking is the will on the part of Fine Gael to do it. I was delighted to see Fine Gael representation at the meeting this morning. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue and, more importantly, I call for action in that regard in the upcoming budget. Let us make sure that childcare workers in this country have a decent future, decent pay and decent conditions.