Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Back in July 2021, a number of security firms received a High Court injunction preventing the Minister from moving ahead with an employment regulation order which I understand would have improved significantly the pay and conditions of staff who work in the security sector. Nothing further appears to have happened since. Many of these people work very long hours. They work very hard and are almost always in the front line. If possible I would like a debate on this issue in the House at the earliest opportunity given that costs have increased for families and working people.There has been a significant increase in the cost of living. These people working on the front line, many of whom work in our hospitals and do a really difficult job right around the clock, deserve to be paid. The Government has a wider project in place to secure a living-wage agreement and it has indicated this will be introduced in the coming budgets. However, that does not cut the mustard for people working in the security sector facing Christmas and all the burdens that come with it. For some, it is a joyous time. For those on low pay, it is a traumatic time, trying to meet the cost of bills while, at the same time, trying to provide a Christmas for their family. I ask that the Minister be invited to the House to explain what he intends to do in that regard.