Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I must apologise that I did not provide advance notice. I seek leave to introduce No. 17 on the Order Paper, the National Minimum Wage (Payment of Interns) Bill 2022. I propose that this be taken before No. 1, if at all possible. Our Bill is effectively to ensure that all work is paid and that there is a level playing field for all workers, and young workers in particular, regardless of their background at the start of their working lives. In quite a number of sectors, it is now nearly impossible to get employment unless one takes on an unpaid internship. That reinforces privilege and the lack of diversity that exists in certain sectors. We believe this Bill is very important.

The main call I will make today is for a debate with the Minister for Health on the national women and infants health programme. This is a very good programme, of course, although it has yet to be fully implemented. It involves a great deal of ambition but we are still a long way from seeing its full implementation. Yesterday, we saw the launch of the national standards for infant feeding, which are very much to be welcomed. It is interesting that, on the same day, I raised a Commencement matter with the Minister of State at the Department of Health who confirmed that, of the 24 lactation posts announced last year, none have yet been filled. Of the 10.5 posts announced in 2020, just over eight have been filled. The result is that, across the whole country, we only have 8.3 publicly funded lactation consultant posts to work within communities. I ask that we have a debate with the Minister for Health on this issue and the very many issues associated with women's health in this country.