Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to express my support for the recommendation. It has been a time when we have heard of the importance of solidarity, and thinking how we rebuild our economy. The workers within companies are also part of the economy and part of society. It is a very fundamental thing. Building back better has been a message being put out but a simple and key part of that is that the voices of workers are heard. The principles of collective bargaining are fundamental to healthy sectors, to healthy and sustainable business, they are in tune with our commitments under the sustainable development goals, under the International Labour Organization and other instruments and all the discussions that Ireland tends to have internationally. It is good practice and this is an opportunity to make good practice a condition. Given the very worrying things we have seen in sectoral employment orders, at a very minimum ensuring that workers have a collective voice in terms of advocating on their rights and conditions, is fundamental. All of us are willing to be on the side of businesses that are seeking to get going at this time but we also need them to be on the side of society as well. That means giving workers a voice and a collective voice, therefore I support the amendment strongly.