Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Boyhan's call for a debate on the red meat sector and the serious issues that arise from the HSA's report. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment should also be party to that debate.

I raise the issue of the pay of contract cleaners. As we all know, contract cleaners are some of the lowest paid across our economy. My question, which I ask the Leader to direct to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, relates to why he is holding up the awarding of a pay increase to workers in the sector. I will briefly provide background to this. Contract cleaning has a joint labour committee. This is where employers and workers come together to decide the rates of pay. Earlier this year, they decided that a pay increase of 40 cent should be awarded from 1 December. The Labour Court adopted this employment regulation order on 4 November and that document has been sitting in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment since 4 November, waiting for a ministerial signature to give statutory effect to the employment regulation order. We are still waiting, as of this morning, for that. It is not acceptable that contract cleaners or any other workers should be left waiting for their pay increase when it has been agreed between employers and worker representatives. I ask the Leader to get an answer from the Minister. If he is not prepared to sign it today, he should come into the House and explain why.

I will] raise a second issue relating to the arts sector and some concerns articulated in recent days regarding the allocation of funding. To be clear, the recent initiatives by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, with regards to the arts sector have been welcome, in terms of the various supports that have been put in place in the music sector and in the theatre and performance sector overall. However, there are clear concerns with regard to the transparency with which those grants are made, fairness and feedback. I understand that a number of applicants have not received feedback as to why they have not received a grant and are looking at others who have. The important point is that these supports in many cases will be the difference between people remaining in the arts sector or being forced to leave a sector they love and have given a lifetime to. I ask, as we have asked previously, for the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to come into this House to debate these issues. It is important that we have a better understanding of the supports that are in place and plans for future supports.