I too want to welcome our union representatives in the Gallery and commend them for the work they do, day in and day out, representing workers across the country. Workers are tired. They are tired of hearing that the economy is thriving while they struggle from week to week. The Government boasts about growth in exports and record employment, but workers cannot pay sky-high bills or meet the rising fuel costs with GDP figures, and nor can they buy groceries with headlines about surpluses. The reality is that for the last number of weeks, the Government has fallen over itself to tell the good and great that the fuel allowance has been extended to over 50,000 working families who rely on the working family payment. If work paid properly, however, then families would not need the State to top up their wages. Inequality is not spread evenly. In Longford-Westmeath, disposable income is between 15% and 25% below average. This means that workers in my area, which is also the Minister’s area, are being asked to cope on lower incomes while they face the same rising costs for food, energy, childcare and housing as everybody else. When this Government delays the living wage until 2029, who does the Government think is carrying that burden? It is not those at the top; it is the workers in counties like Longford and Westmeath and families already stretched to the limit. Over half of workers say they are not paid fairly. One in four jobs is classed as poor quality. Nearly half of non-union workers say they would join a union if they could. Workers should have the legal right to collective bargaining, union access to workplaces, a living wage and stronger rights to flexible and remote working. The Government should stop pretending that national growth figures mean everybody is prospering; they are not. They certainly are not in Longford and they certainly are not in Westmeath and nor are any of those 50,000 families relying on State wage supports. If the Government truly believes in rewarding work, it is time to prove it. I ask the Minister to withdraw his amendment and support this motion, workers, and fair pay.

Sentiment score: 0.19