My question is a simple one, namely, to ask the Minister the position on the recruitment campaign to increase the number of WRC inspectors from 53 to 90. When will the complement of 90 be reached? This was part of Towards 2016, if my memory serves me correctly. Towards 2016 was agreed in 2006. Since 2016, there have been more people who may require the services of the commission's inspectors. Could the Tánaiste give us an update on the recruitment campaign and when the figure of 90 will be reached?

Since 2015, over one third of WRC investigations detected breaches of employment law. The data reveal fairly starkly the dark underbelly of the Irish economy. We are all agreed that this needs to be stamped out. In the past six years, the WRC has detected breaches in more than one third of all of its investigations. Of the investigations, 35.9% found breaches by employers regarding the non-payment of the minimum wage, employment permits, the protection of young persons, annual leave and public holiday entitlements …

The amalgamation of the functions of the WRC did not reduce the need for labour inspectors. If anything, the figures I have obtained prove there is a need for more labour inspectors. I am very disappointed the Tánaiste does not hear that or does not recognise the need. Despite being underfunded and resourced, the WRC does absolutely fantastic work on behalf of workers. We can see that. Data provided to me show that, in the past decade alone, nearly €18 million in wages was returned to workers following investigatio…

The decisions taken in this Bill and associated Bills on maritime planning will have major repercussions for the future, particularly the future of Fingal and the seashore along north County Dublin. The marine planning Bill, which will establish a marine planning system for our maritime areas similar to that in place for land planning, is coming down the track. What is in that legislation, like this Bill, has to be an agreed vision constructed through engagement and conversation with planning experts, marine biolog…

Before I address the issue of the national economic recovery plan I wish to say a word of thanks to the members of An Garda Síochána who are having their patience tested outside today. My thanks also go to the Oireachtas staff and the staff in the convention centre who are having to deal with those people. The disrespect shown to Members and staff going in and out of Leinster House has been something to behold. As I understand it, they are now on their way down here. All those involved in keeping us safe deserve to…

I wish to share time with Deputy Quinlivan.

I thank Teachta Pearse Doherty for all of the work he has done, not just on this important legislation, but on the area of insurance. He has been rightly recognised here this evening by those who care to pay attention to exactly what is happening. I listened with interest to the Minister of State. I often think how when Ministers come in and read scripts, it can really sound like they are reading them for the first time. I wonder whether they believe all the stuff that is in the text. The Minister of State indicate…

The pandemic has reinforced the need for progressive change in the area of paid leave for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and domestic violence. I am sure the Minister will be aware that yesterday National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, launched the university's domestic violence leave policy. It is a really good piece of work and I recommend that the Minister take a look at it and engage with some of the people involved. His colleague attended the launch with me yesterday. I thank, in particular, Nata…

I do not disagree. Support is absolutely essential. I experienced this personally when I was a workplace representative. Very often people in a domestic violence situation find the abuse is not confined to home. In fact, their workplace becomes a site of abuse. The Minister and I know this happens. While I respect a consultation process is under way, the Minister must also respect that for a long number of years this issue has been on the agenda for Sinn Féin and others. However, there already has been a delay. It …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak in this debate. I want to refer briefly to a point made by one of the previous speakers. It is utterly ludicrous to suggest that the same measures and approaches should apply on days when there are six cases and on days when there are 6,000 cases. I find it more than ludicrous that the Government and Government representatives should be suggesting that approach. It is important that the strategy adapts and I would have thought that was a view shared by others…

The aviation sector has been decimated by this pandemic. Workers in the sector are on their knees. They are on reduced hours and pay, with some are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and others the employment wage subsidy scheme, while many have been accessing jobseeker's benefit and short-term work supports. Others have suffered the loss of their jobs. Last week, we heard the devastating announcement by Aer Lingus regarding base closures. More than 140,000 jobs depend on us getting this right an…

The aviation sector has been decimated by the pandemic. Workers across the State are on reduced hours, reduced pay, the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. Some have lost their jobs. This week, we heard the devastating news that Aer Lingus has announced further job losses and base closures. More than 140,000 jobs depends on us getting this right and ensuring the sector comes through but the Minister's hands-off attitude to date has made the situation much worse. Our con…

Sinn Féin vigorously opposed the privatisation of Aer Lingus in 2015 by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. We said at that time that it would cost jobs. Unfortunately, that decision has left the Government severely weakened in its position and that is obvious. I ask the Minister to engage proactively with Aer Lingus, and to not come in here and list the supports every sector is getting. The aviation sector has been hit harder than most. Surely, the Minister must acknowledge that. Can the Minister please advise us rega…

Adam Higgins has written a story published in today's newspaper about a young woman named Lauren. She is now waiting five months for her housing assistance payment, HAP, application to be processed. She is one of thousands. The people processing it in Fingal County Council have been advised by management in a message sent to staff and seen by The Sun : Citizens requesting an update on their HAP application should not be advised that it is taking [x] number of months or weeks. Nor should they be advised what month w…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 in respect of periods of lay-off and short time and the calculation of reckonable service and to provide for related matters. I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce the Bill. Many Deputies in this House and anybody who pays attention to what goes on at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment will have heard me talk about the issues that are contained in the Bill. Since the o…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

I commend Deputy Ó Broin not alone on this motion but on all of the work he has done and continues to do to fix the mess that successive governments have created in our housing market. That Government policy has failed is not in question any longer. For decades, the policies of successive governments have failed. They have failed young people, renters, first-time buyers and every person who wants security in their home. The evidence of this is all around us. The evidence is in my family. It may not be in that of th…

Next week, Sinn Féin will meet Anne Marie Cagney, assistant commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan region, to discuss the issue of antisocial behaviour in Dublin city and county. I am sure the Tánaiste, like all other Members, has seen social media videos of incidents in Malahide and other areas and I am sure constituents of his who are gravely concerned have contacted his office. The public health message is that we will have our summer outdoors. That means we need more facilities such as bins and public toilets…

That is fine. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for the opportunity to speak today. The Bill at hand makes some important changes in the area of personal insolvency and to how supports operate. While it might seem technical in nature, the reality is that the legislation will have far-reaching consequences for those who may end up in the terrible situation of being indebted. This Bill, therefore, is important legislation, and even more important in the context of the pandemic. The twofold crisis of personal debt a…

As outlined by my colleague, an Teachta Quinlivan, Sinn Féin welcomes the Bill. It has been a long time coming and, as noted by the Tánaiste and Deputy Quinlivan, there have been several attempts to get this done. It is welcome that we are having this discussion. It is regrettable that the opportunity to run with the Bill introduced by Deputy Quinlivan was not taken in the previous Dáil but, as was stated, we are where we are. Sinn Féin is not precious about solutions to this issue. We want to be constructive and w…