Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste to the Seanad. As Minister, he has championed so many policies. His commitment today concerns statutory sick leave. This is about his commitment to achieving his goals for workers' rights. It really shows how Fine Gael's policies are ensuring rights for those on all wages, especially those on the minimum wage. We know that more than half of all businesses provide sick leave. The remainder are more than likely in low-pay sectors. Therefore, it is crucial that this Bill deliver for those in these sectors.

As the Tánaiste mentioned in his introduction, Covid showed how important it is that people who are sick can take time off work. We also noted how women in the low-pay sector were greatly affected. Many working in retail and hospitality, including as cleaners, suffered. There was no equality. What the Minister is doing is bringing in equal rights for workers in all sectors. That is crucial.

I really appreciate that there has been consultation. The Minister has mentioned that the costs will be shared between employers and employees. The consultation process is crucial. The Minister also stated that his Department has engaged in a peer review to determine the approach in various countries across the world. He stated we are now joining the ranks of so many in the European Union to deliver proper workers' rights, particularly when it comes to accessing sick leave.

As the Tánaiste said, this legislation is a safety net for people. Is there a way to review the impact of the legislation, perhaps in a year or two? I realise the Tánaiste said that, within four years, we will have a period of up to ten days. That would be phenomenal. Currently, the period is three days. Taking into account the pressures on the business sector, could we, maybe in a few years' time, ascertain the impact of the legislation, particularly on men and women in those sectors that are considered to have low pay? I am talking about people working in manufacturing and warehousing and those in abattoirs. There are many areas where people could not take sick leave, which had a huge impact. Well done to the Tánaiste for introducing this legislation and for the work we are seeing on workers' rights. Again, this is about ensuring equality for people.