This is a specific question with regard to an ongoing dispute with Iceland. The workers are owed wages and they are very nervous and anxious about the future operation of the company and specifically the future for their own earnings and jobs.

I am familiar, as the Minister of State is, with the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003, TUPE. We know them and the workers have had to apprise themselves of their entitlements under the regulations. Regrettably, the new employer in this instance seems blissfully unaware of its obligations under TUPE and it is for that reason we have ended up in this situation. I have put the Minister of State on notice. He may already be aware that at least one of the stores…

I ask that at the meeting, the Minister of State would encourage the employer in this instance to go in the direction of the WRC. The Minister of State is right, in that the WRC and the Labour Court have a very clear role here. However, they have no role if the employer does not turn up. One can take a section 20 and it will be binding on the person who takes it, but not on the person who does not turn up. That will be of very little value. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and these people are alread…

We are fairly getting through the questions this morning.

Indeed. I will be putting in a claim for the overtime.

My question is No. 72.

I understand that. I do not have any information on the matter. Apologies. I could do it with the permission of the Cathaoirleach, but it would be a fool's errand, unfortunately.

I am sure the Minister could sing it if he had an ear to it.

Maybe another day.

My question is fairly straightforward. I am looking for the Minister's views on the report by the European Committee of Social Rights, ECSR, which found that the Government is in breach of several aspects of the European Social Charter. That is an important report. We should not be lagging behind on this or seeing this. I am interested in the Minister's views on what was found.

The committee found that we are in breach in several areas, including the right to organise and the promotion of collective bargaining, which are breached by Ireland's failure to enact laws ensuring that workers cannot be dismissed for trade union involvement or activity. That is an important protection which does not exist. There is also ban on strikes by members of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. The most recent report reaffirms the criticisms that have been made over many years. It specifically refers …

The committee honed in on the lack of protection for trade union activity. I understand, not because of anyone sitting opposite but because we will be compelled by the European Union, that we will bring in legal protections for union organising and representation. Currently, without the protection from discrimination for trade union activity, it is impeding workers' capacity to organise. It means that if we cannot comply with that, workers are left in a situation where they cannot organise and cannot then vindicate…

Affiliation.

May I respond to that briefly? I am referring to the report that was published and the fact that the right to strike was mentioned in it. I appreciate that. I looked only for affiliation when I spoke to the Minister, as he will know. I have long association with both those organisations and understand exactly what they want.

On 26 April, I emailed the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to bring to her attention the case of a 44-year-old woman in my constituency who has multiple sclerosis, MS, and is a wheelchair user. She had to go into a nursing home due to the lack of home care. She is 44. I am older than this woman and I am nowhere near ready for a nursing home. It is demeaning, dehumanising and not the right way to treat people. Likewise, there are twins living in my constituency who are almost 18. Both are wheelchair users and bo…

I thank the Minister of State.

Before I make my contribution, I ask if we can have some form of standardised issue for ministerial contributions. This one, to be fair, is better than most because it is printed on both sides and on recycled paper. We could have narrow margins and smaller print. We do not need it big for reading out.

Well, yes, but I think for distribution, it would save a bit of paper if it were standardised. It is nobody's fault. I just think it should be standardised. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. Export controls on the export of items that can be used for civil or military purposes are an important measure in ensuring that items do not fall into the hands of those who would use them to cause injury or death in regional conflicts or to violate human rights in th…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for being here to take this Topical Issue. The children's disability network team, CDNT, in Balbriggan district covers Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Loughshinny and the surrounding rural areas. This waiting list has more than 1,000 kids on it. At a recent meeting, the HSE representatives admitted it is likely to be the worst in this State. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear from parents, and I do not propose to go into detail with a lot of personal stories.…

I thank the Minister for the response. I understand and genuinely appreciate the efforts that are being made but has the Minister thought about setting a target? It is my understanding that a figure of 600 was also quoted at the meeting but let us not quibble about the figure. We can agree that if it is 600, it is absolutely shameful and disgraceful and if it is 1,000, that is even worse. We can agree that the figure is excessive. Ada's story illustrates what happens in these situations. The Minister said in his re…