Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would never join the Senator, but I certainly have a similar view on protecting workers rights, as does, to be fair, the Minister of State. That is what we are doing today. We are making provision. That is the fundamental point about this legislation. There is also the Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill later on. It is about ensuring that workers' conditions and living standards are looked after by the Government. This is a positive day. I take Senator Gavan's point on board. The Minister of State can take back that point back to the Department.

I often look at amendments - not necessarily in this case - seeking that reports be made within so many months and ask what such reports will achieve. The Minister of State is committed to a review. I ask myself why we table amendments stating that reports on legislation should be made within three or six months.

I am of the view that the Bill highlights the importance of the Government acting on behalf of workers. It also accentuates the need for a public sector pay deal, because there is power and strength in terms of the cohesiveness of such a deal. Coming out of Covid and in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by a war that is so wrong, we need to protect public sector workers. That is why, in the context of arriving at a public sector pay deal, I appeal to those on all sides to go back to the table and engage. I heard the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, speaking about this matter at the weekend. I exhort him and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to act. Senator Sherlock and the Labour Party can use their influence in this regard. It is about brining people to the table. We cannot have successful talks through various people appearing on “Morning Ireland” and expressing different points of view. It is about the power of being at the table. That is why I hope the negotiations can resume.

I am not being critical of anybody. I have been a public sector worker all my life. My point is that I recognise the importance of the public sector and of the employees within it and what they bring to the table. I was in this House when former Senator Eoghan Harris used to pillory the public sector week after week. There were very few of us who were in here every day defending the public sector at a time when some individuals were bringing forward proposals to decimate that sector. I do not know if Senator Sherlock recalls that. She probably does.

I am not trying to pit one against the other. I have never been about that. I accept that I am digressing - I apologise for that - but what I want to see happen is the talks resuming because our country and workers need to that collective pay deal to be agreed. We are better served by that than by people having to go off and do individual deals, which serves nobody. That is the point I am making. Please do not say that I am being divisive because I am not.