Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today is our first sitting since May Day on Monday and since the Workers' Memorial Day last Friday. Of course, while May Day is a great celebration of the achievements by the trade union movement and by workers, it is also a time to reflect on the enormous challenges for workers. A group of workers who were fired from the company Murphy International in Limerick came to Leinster House some weeks ago. They are now known as the Murphy Four. They were fired because of their trade union activity. This is a reflection of the enduring hostility that remains within many workplaces in this country towards trade unionism and towards those who are just looking to vindicate their rights to a better livelihood and to secure better terms and conditions. It is also a reflection of how much Ireland is out of step with the rest of the EU in not having a right to be recognised for collective bargaining purposes. While we have the EU directive on adequate minimum wages coming down the tracks and while we have the high-level group report from last year, the fact remains that the Government in Ireland needs to get its act together now in ensuring workers have a right to be recognised for collective bargaining purposes in the State.

The other key point I wish to raise is on foot of Workers' Memorial Day. I stood with many others, including the Health and Safety Authority, employers, and trade unions, at a very moving event last Friday in the Garden of Remembrance. It was to remember the 28 people who lost their lives in Irish workplaces last year and to remember and recall the hundreds of others who have been seriously injured at workplaces. The remembrance ceremony took place at a time when we saw a very serious incident at the Stryker plant just a fortnight ago. It is important to bear in mind that there were three Labour Court recommendations against this company urging it to engage with trade unions, which the company ignored. Between that and the pleas by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, last Friday and again this morning regarding workplace safety, we need to hear more from the Government about looking after and protecting workers.