Sinéad Gibney
Dublin Rathdown · Social Democrats · Ireland
“Unfortunately, those are still not entirely clear. Although the Windsor Framework did look to enshrine that policy of no diminution of rights and the non-divergence of rights on either side of the Border, that has not been clear in how it is going to play out.”
“I want to raise one specific sector. Within my portfolio, the culture sector is a good example of where we could see a much better offering in the joining together of the two economic activities. For example, we have a very vibrant production sector for film and television.”
“The other word that is important to bring into any economic discussion and fiscal discussion around a united Ireland is "holistic" because, unfortunately at times, I see the Government looking at the economy as a discrete part of society and neglecting things that fall outside of economic discussion, economic imperatives, and policymaking…”
“There are ways that we can see how our governance of this jurisdiction can be improved simply by the opportunities that will be presented by opening up constitutional change and the discussions that we are all going to have about how we govern ourselves right now and how we may govern an entire island of Ireland.”
“When the Minister of State referred to office roles in Brussels, was he describing roles in NATO headquarters? The international forces the Minister of State is describing are exactly like the coalition that invaded Iraq.”
“I look forward to coming back to the topic of the triple lock in a few questions' time. I have read with extreme concern the reports over the past week on the lack of support provided by the Department of Defence to Women of Honour, whose members are participating in the Defence Forces tribunal.”
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“Of course, there is a genuine worry that there is going to be a repeat of the austerity years, pay cuts and precarious jobs because workers are always left to carry the can. Collective agreements and clear industrial relations provide stability. The goals of competitiveness cannot be an excuse to row back workers’ rights. It cannot be a race to the bottom. The response to precarity should be better social floors, better quality jobs and a rebalancing of the social contract. Má tá sochaí uainn ina bhfuil gach duine in ann maireachtáil le dínit, caithfear dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna seo. If we want people to be able to live in dignity in our society, we need to address collective bargaining, labour displacement and precarious work.”
“While we associate precarity of labour with specific areas like retail and hospitality, the stark reality is that precarity has now seeped into so many areas. I have many friends in the academic sector, which is an area that has been eroded further and further. It is the same with other professional areas. Employers also take advantage of the fact that people do not know their rights well enough or do not have the time or the means to take legal cases against them. In this current climate, as often happens in times of economic uncertainty, it is workers who are the least responsible but the worse hit. When the Minister opened this session this afternoon, the first thing he mentioned was the tariffs.”
“If we changed our attitude towards these professions and started to value them more and pay them better, we would see a much cleaner shift from people who want to reskill from those jobs that are in danger, such as jobs in the professional classes, to those crucial jobs in our society to provide care for people and teaching and so on. We are so disempowered in our workplaces. The new opportunities and innovations which can help society are currently only being used for the benefit of the few. Our society owes so much more to people than simply using them until they are rendered obsolete. The final piece I wish speak to relates to precarity. The work people do in society is more and more precarious. It highlights our lack of protection and social floor.”
“Within the terms of reference, “unemployment” is referenced but “labour displacement” is a better term to use. We will see massive labour displacement across huge swathes of our workforce. If we want to be real about this, we have to look at reskilling. One of the areas the Government must analyse is the fact that there are certain cohorts of our labour force which cannot be automated, such as nurses, carers, teachers, artists and firefighters. They cannot be automated because they bring a human element that cannot be replicated by a machine. At the same time, however, these are the very areas of our workforce which are completely undervalued, ripe for exploitation and dominated by women, and in some cases migrant women who are completely undervalued, underpaid and under-resourced in their roles.”
“While there is, of course, no constitutional right enshrined at the moment, there is no barrier to it. We need to see it enshrined in the Constitution. Tá a fhios againn faoin treoir Eorpach maidir leis seo le blianta. Tá sé thar am dúinn cosaint dlíthiúil a thabhairt d’oibrithe ina leith. While industrial relations are a balancing act, the scales are currently weighted heavily against workers. Labour displacement is the next thing I wish to talk about because artificial intelligence is going to displace labour in a magnitude, way and measure for which we are not prepared. As policymakers and political leaders, we are not yet having the right conversations about this. I welcome that there will be a committee on artificial intelligence. I will be on that committee.”
“We know – and there was a brilliant campaign, Respect at Work, on this issue last year from the trade unions - that at the moment even organising within your workplace can lead to victimisation. People are penalised, hunted down and chased out of their workplaces for it. Minor infractions are used as a way to expel them from the workplace simply because they have been trying to unionise and organise their fellow workers. We need to see a statutory right to collective bargaining. Despite this, the "Constitution says no" message from governments for decades around collective bargaining, there is no barrier to it. The organisation I used to lead, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, produced research two years ago which clearly defined that there is no constitutional barrier to collective bargaining.”
“Employers cannot have a veto on whether or not collective bargaining can happen. While I welcome there is now a consultation and an action plan in this regard, we have heard from the Government that it believes collective bargaining and the related obligations in the directive are met by the joint labour committees, JLCs. I absolutely challenge that because they do not provide any imperative for employers to actually recognise trade unions or effective ways in which collective bargaining can transform society. Collective bargaining will reduce income inequality and provide better working conditions and higher wages. Having a strong collective bargaining framework is a net benefit to society. We must push for it.”
“How I would describe the application of this Government to workers’ rights is kicking and screaming because we all know it is only when it is absolutely feet to the fire by EU directives or other measures that it introduces the rights we all know will benefit society. Collective bargaining is a real, clear example of this because it is something the Government is now having to act on in light of the EU minimum wage directive. Ba chóir dúinn go léir a bheith ag tacú le cearta oibrithe. Ba chóir go mbeadh muid in ann dul chun na hoibre gach lá gan a bheith imníoch faoi phá íseal, easpa chothrom na finné san ionad oibre nó faoi dhíoltas má chuireann tú gearán isteach. Faraor, tá an imní sin ar dhaoine ar fud na tíre. We are an outlier in Europe on employment rights.”
“Young people today, including my own 25-year-old daughter and her peers, challenge workers’ rights in a way that will be a real paradigm shift. They are the leaders in how we think about issues like climate change, gender, sexuality and mental health. I believe workers’ rights are right up there with those issues. We are seeing a completely different attitude to the exploitation that has crept into our workplaces and is stronger than ever. It is great to hear so many colleagues raise the disparity in the minimum wage for younger people, which is only going to fuel this shift more. If the Government wants to see that revolution take hold, then please continue on the same way. All day today we have heard messages about how the Government, if one were to believe the narrative coming forward, is the pioneer of workers’ rights.”
“While I fully acknowledge and recognise the work done by this Government and multiple governments in the area of job creation, his tone and comments belie to me an attitude I see across this Government that workers should be grateful to have jobs at all, as if they are some kind of kindness from employers. What he failed to recognise, and what I wish to recognise today on May Day, is that for a business to make money or for an employer to profit and simply function, they rely on the value that is produced by their workers. Without them, not a single wheel would turn. This idea that we are being done a favour by being employed at all is a sentiment which should remain in the 19th century where it belongs.”
“I will finally talk about the related issue of precarity. This has been such a force in eroding the quality of work that so many different areas and sectors have experienced in recent decades. Before I get into those specific topics, today I have heard, for example, from the Tánaiste who gave an answer earlier during Leaders’ Questions in response to Deputy Murphy in the context of poor workers’ rights and low pay. He recalled a time when we had to be worried about getting jobs in the first place. He celebrated and highlighted the Government’s efforts in job creation and achieving full employment.”
“I start by marking International Workers’ Day and recognising workers throughout Ireland and the world and, as Deputy O’Reilly said, particularly the workers of Leinster House who make our lives so much more enjoyable as we come in every day to do our work. Lá na n-Oibrithe sona daoibh go léir. I will talk about three specific topics within the area of workers’ rights. I will focus on collective bargaining, an area in which we are so far behind. While it is great to hear a consultation is happening, I am a bit cynical and worried about where that is going to go. I will also talk about labour displacement and artificial intelligence, AI, because AI is going to be one of the most fundamental shifts, one which we, as political leaders and policymakers, are not yet talking about in an honest and direct way.”
“I do not deny that safeguarding has improved, but it is not where we need it to be. Certainly, when it comes to transparency and accountability, it is nowhere near where we need it to be. I urge the Government to be serious about dealing with this in a way that reaches right down into those foundations and down into the roots of legislation and frameworks so we can actually build systems that provide the justice that people seek in these instances.”
“All people in those settings and their families and loved ones, who support them in those settings and who want to be reassured that they are safe there, are impacted by what has happened in the past couple of weeks with the publication of this report and the statement from the State’s General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court since then. We need to reassure those people that we are serious about finding justice and about establishing a framework for finding justice that actually works and meets those needs. There is no question that safeguarding has improved since Grace's case. There is no question that the HSE has continued to work to address some of these shortcomings. In fairness, successive Governments have done what they can in some instances to try to address those shortcomings.”
“We need to look at that and ask how we can set a better foundation for the establishment of investigations that will actually meet people's needs and achieve justice for those who have been wronged. What is so upsetting within this context is that it does not just affect those people who have been wronged, but all those people who are in facilities and settings across our State where there is a power imbalance and they are vulnerable in the dynamic they are in. The State is the one that holds the greater power in those instances.”
“In my work in the human rights and equality space, I have met many people who have become experts in human rights and equality because of the failings of the State to meet their needs in accessing justice. They have literally gone and got masters' and PhD qualifications so that they can fight for their own cause in multiple judicial settings and access justice, as the State is not doing it. We are continuing to establish commissions of investigation, inquiries and tribunals that despite the fact they have within the legislation the facility and the parameters to set terms and conditions that will meet those needs, are failing again and again. They are failing the most vulnerable people within this State.”
“However, at this stage when we see the length of time, the delay, the cost and the shortcomings of what are emerging from this legislation, we have to look at it again. We have to question why it is not meeting the needs of people who have been wronged by the State and in the State in seeking and accessing justice for those wrongdoings. It is not good enough and that Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 is absolutely crucial within this. That experts this week have essentially called for an inquiry into the inquiry tells us that this legislation is flawed and needs to be revisited. It must be revisited if we are ever to expect to deal with legacy issues and with the wrongdoings that so many vulnerable people in this State have been dealing with for their whole lives.”
“Her access to justice has not been facilitated by the State and the process of investigating what happened to her is flawed. I want to speak specifically today about the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. It was introduced to address the shortcomings that we had seen previously in tribunals and inquiries. It has in some part proved helpful in the establishment of such tribunals, inquiries and commissions of investigation, which have at times reached the human rights standards that we would expect of those investigations, but, sadly, more often it has not. I know that there is concern and reticence about reopening such key legislation that ultimately has the potential to fulfil our needs in terms of human rights compliance.”
“I want to express my thoughts and concerns for Grace, for her family, for all victims of State wrongdoing and for victims who have been further bruised by the failure of the State to facilitate their access to justice. The key points I want to raise today are the flaws in our framework for accessing justice through commissions of investigation, tribunals and inquiries. I want to speak out to those people who are concerned right now, whose loved ones are in care in various ways across the State. They are seeking reassurance at this difficult time. We need to see improvements in safeguarding overall but for adults in particular. We have seen some improvements but we need more transparency and accountability. Grace is a victim of State wrongdoing.”
“It is the infrastructural development that unfortunately we have been crying out and which has been under-delivered again and again by this Government. In my constituency of Dublin Rathdown transport is such a problem for people. The bus routes are not working for them. The Luas was such a great success but now capacity is such that people cannot even get on at certain stops. Even at my local stop in Sandyford or in Stillorgan, it is difficult to get a seat in the morning at rush hour. Healthcare, GP visits and secondary school places are a problem as well. With regard to amenities and sports facilities for young people, there are issues in Sandyford where conflict has arisen because young people have so little available to them in the local area-----”
“I welcome the opportunity to comment on the revised national planning framework. It is such a crucial piece in the infrastructure of our planning in this country. Obviously, it flows down into regional plans and into local area plans and sets those parameters which we need to guide the development of our population and our communities over the coming years. In particular, I welcome that brownfield sites and infill development is a feature in this. In my constituency, although really across Ireland, we need to make sure we harness that as a way to make sure we reach our targets in terms of housing development but that we do it in a way that is sustainable and in a way that keeps communities together, which is so crucial. I agree with my colleagues in terms of what we need to see match this.”
“The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity; b. The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential; c. Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society. Unless we keep our eyes on that prize of truly inclusive education, that is what we will lose out on. We are losing out, as individuals, as families, as communities and as a society, on the contribution of all of our people.”
“I look at my local community and find an educational pathway that matches my needs, my values and my ideology, and somewhere that does not other me from peers in my age group and locality. That is what inclusive education is. I fear that we often lose sight of this. It is what we all should be striving toward. We are talking about special education. Really, we should have moved beyond use of the word "special". We should have a mainstream education system which meets the needs of everybody within it and which prevents us from othering people in the disability community. We have a roadmap for this. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which we ratified in 2018, states clearly that a state's obligation is to provide an inclusive education system which is directed to: a.”
“I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion. In particular, I commend the recommendations made in the motion, where we see outlined the upholding of the vision of inclusive education to which we should all aspire. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems to become a little lost in our discussion that inclusive education is where we need to be at. All of us are sharing experiences today. It is the same in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown, including Stillorgan, Foxrock, Dundrum, Goatstown and Kilmacud. I have spoken with families who at their wits' end from the intensive campaigning they have had to do for many years to simply realise their child's right to education. What is inclusive education? Inclusive education means that, as an individual, I access the right to an education with choice.”
“Supporting an open economy and ensuring that Ireland works well in that context does not mean we have to compromise. I urge the Government to adopt the same position.”
“There are also the cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, and the many other ways at a domestic level that Trump is causing havoc, as well as the legal challenges emerging as a result. We saw a huge mobilisation at the weekend and we can expect that to continue. I will remark on Deputy Malcolm Byrne's comments on CETA and Mercosur. Social Democrats support an open economy. We know our open economy has been good for Ireland globally and we want to ensure that remains the case as much as possible. That does not mean that we have to drop our standards. Trade agreements have been in place since 2017 and are operating functionally but it is the investor court under CETA with which we have an issue. We will continue to have an issue with it because that is where we are starting to see slippage.”
“We know the Trump Administration is very volatile, with tariffs announced, then revoked, reintroduced, paused and what-not. We are seeing pressure building up domestically in the US and a raft of domestic measures that is causing huge problems for Trump. Given that he constantly speaks to his base and relies on it, if anything is going to move him on this issue, it will come from inside. My colleague Deputy Gannon will speak to the specific case of USAID, the United States Agency for International Aid, which is storing up trouble for the entire globe. On day one, Trump cut off USAID completely and is shutting down the agency. The impact that is having and will have is absolutely huge.”
“We can also look at those other areas of the globe for alternatives to the markets and supply chains that will be disrupted for Irish businesses through these tariffs. We also need, at a global level, to ensure we prevent any kind of race to the bottom. Our standards in the European Union ensure our consumers are protected and ensure we have a supply to our market of products and services we know we can rely on. We do not need to see any erosion of that. We know that Trump and his Administration are going after trade barriers as well as tariffs. There is a real risk that we will see a slippage of standards. We need to ensure that our voice prevents that as much as possible. We also need to look at the US domestic context.”
“Caithfimid an deis a thapú naisc thrádála a neartú le tíortha san Aontas Eorpach agus tíortha eile ar fud an domhain chun poist, caighdeán maireachtála agus geilleagar na hÉireann a chosaint ar bhealach inbhuanaithe. At a global level, we need to ensure we are looking at how we can co-ordinate with global partners to maximise our impact regarding any retaliatory measures taken. What I mean by that is that if we look to Latin America, Asia, Canada, Mexico and so on. Everybody is hurting from these tariffs and we need to ensure that we co-ordinate with these partners so that when we introduce retaliatory measures, we do so in sync with those other markets and countries to ensure they have as big an impact as possible on the US.”
“We must ensure that work continues so that indigenous businesses can be supported to repurpose their operations and continue to have lifelines to other markets if and when the American tariffs kick in and block out the potential of the US market. We have seen that there is an over-reliance on one particular country. We have to ensure we invest in indigenous businesses. Unfortunately, despite the surpluses we have seen in recent years, we have not seen the investment in infrastructure that the Social Democrats have long called for. We need to commit to that now. Caithfimid a bheith ionraic faoin áit a bhfuilimid anois. Bhíomar ag brath an iomarca ar ár naisc thrádála le tír amháin.”
“As one of the 27 member states, we have to ensure that what we commit to expresses our interests and maintains the European Union within that context. We also urge the Government to push at European Union level for the repurposing of the European globalisation adjustment fund, which was set up to take account of the job losses on globalisation. I believe this fund can be repurposed for the moment we find ourselves in. We must seek partners within the EU, particularly for our indigenous businesses, to ensure that where there are opportunities for market growth and supply chain sources, they are readily available. Enterprise Ireland does an incredible job in seeking those partners both within the European Union and globally.”
“These have been held together by the Windsor Framework and now needs to be looked at anew in the current context in which differential tariff rates apply and there is potential for differential rates with regard to the EU retaliation. On the EU level response, the EU is obviously where this will be negotiated. I welcome that the Government has been so hard at work in recent weeks and continues to represent Ireland's interests at EU level. It is vital that we prevent escalation in this context and continue to represent the position that retaliatory tit-for-tat tariffs are not good for anybody. Instead, we need to see partnership across the European Union and need to maintain unity because Trump will seek to sow disunity among member states.”
“These supports will not be required to the same extent but they need to remain on the table. Similarly, cost-of-living supports should be part of the upcoming budget. I note the Minister for Finance has already suggested that these will not be a part of this year's budgetary package. In the current context, they have to be part of the budget because people who are already living close to poverty or in poverty are now facing increasing prices, which we must take into account. I also urge the Government to continue with the type of preparedness and analysis we saw with Brexit. We saw the Civil Service excel in its analysis of the situation and make suggestions as to the potential outcomes. I urge that this work be continued. We all have to consider the situation of Northern Ireland and the fragile peace and stability we have.”
“As Social Democrats, we emphasise that everything must remain on the table for now, from supports for consumers with regard to the cost-of-living increases we will see to supports for businesses in particular. This is not to suggest these supports need to be introduced or committed to immediately but they must remain an option. I am referring here to the mixed messaging we have heard from senior Government spokespeople over the past few days as to whether these supports will even be considered or remain on the table as an option. I recommend in particular that the Government review the Kurzarbeit scheme in Germany, which has won plaudits from the OECD and elsewhere as a way to maintaining the employment-employer link that we all saw work so well during the Covid-19 pandemic when we had similar support in place.”
“I welcome the opportunity to make statements on the tariffs that we know are worrying people across the globe, this country and my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. Tá faitíos ar go leor daoine fud fad na tíre. Tá an faitíos sin orthu mar gheall ar a gcuid post, mar gheall ar chostais maireachtála agus mar gheall nach mbeidh na seirbhísí poiblí a theastaíonn uathu ann mar gheall ar cúlú eacnamaíoch. These concerns extend, in particular today, to the pharma sector in which, following the announcement we all woke up to this morning, people's jobs are increasingly under threat. I will speak about three levels, namely, the ways in which, domestically, at EU level and globally, we need to respond to this.”
“For example, we could identify a widget in the supply chain of a key sector in the US and look at how we could jointly bring about an increased impact. That is something I would like the EU to pursue. The Social Democrats support the open economy Ireland has enjoyed and we recognise the threat that the tariffs bring to it. We must ensure we do not use them as a mask to once again pursue austerity measures. It is sinister to see that potentially emerging in recent days in the context of employment rights and other issues. This seems to be an attempt not to waste a good crisis. That cannot happen. We must hold strong, uphold our standards and make sure we protect consumers and businesses in the best way possible through the supports I mentioned at the outset.”
“It is crucial at global level that we prevent a race to the bottom. Trump has also indicated that it is not just tariffs he is after, but trade barriers as well. He is complaining that markets are not willing to import US goods because of other reasons, for example, chlorinated chicken or lower standard beef, and so on. We have to make sure that there is not any dismantling of the standards that we uphold in the European Union and the Irish market. This protects consumers and maintains a quality for consumers that they can rely on. At global level we also have to look at other partners. We could potentially take a co-ordinated approach beyond the EU, if we try to partner with Asian countries, Canada, Mexico and so on.”
“Although the motion does speak about the footprint that needs to be increased in those different arenas in the US, it does not mention the Democrats. I urge the Government to look strengthen our alliance with the Democrats in the US, because the domestic context has to be recognised. Trump is a megalomaniac and anything that can potentially affect him will probably come from the disturbances we are seeing at domestic level, because this is not all that he is doing. The tariff war is not the only action he is taking. He is laying off massive numbers of people in the public sector in the US, through the DOGE cuts. He has cut US aid, which is having massive impacts globally. In many ways, we are seeing a response to this in the US. We have to take that into consideration in how it will affect the potential for the roll-out of these tariffs.”
“We also need to make sure to look at every avenue in which the European Union can offer alternative markets and supply chains that businesses will need during this crisis. Most importantly, Trump will win if he fragments the EU by pushing disunity. It is crucial that we promote unity among member states over the coming weeks, because that is a danger. One more thing on the EU level is to suggest that the EU reignites its EU globalisation adjustment fund. We believe it is the perfect mechanism at this time to address the dangers that businesses are facing. Regarding the global context, we welcome that the Tánaiste is travelling to the US at the moment to engage with key US Administration figures to pursue Irish interests and represent them in that forum.”
“We welcome the engagement that the Government has committed to over the past few weeks and in the weeks to come, to represent Ireland's interests at EU level and to make sure that we punch above our weight in terms of how our different sectors that may be impacted will be represented. Most importantly, escalation needs to be prevented and we need to be prevented from being dragged into further tit-for-tat and retaliation. We also urge Ministers representing Ireland at EU level to seek partners in the pharma sector that will be similarly impacted by today's announcement, such as Denmark, Belgium and Germany, to see how we can collaborate with them to ensure that our joint interests carry additional weight.”
“On a domestic level, I want to speak about the danger of the differential tariff we have seen across the Border. It is crucial that we take into consideration any potential impacts that differences in tariffs and export and import measures will mean for peace and stability on this island. This threat cannot be underestimated. We saw this threat during Brexit. The Windsor Framework is delicately holding that together but is now under further threat. We need to also exploit it, as it can be a potential economic gain for companies here. Most of what will be done in terms of negotiation will happen at EU level.”
“The economic emphasis of the country also has to be addressed. I refer to the surplus we have seen over the last number of years. Unfortunately, there has not been the investment in infrastructure and housing that we would have hoped for. It is the case that many multinationals face not only the barriers from Trump, but the existing barriers. We need to know that they can support their workers with the public services and housing that they would expect. During the Brexit crisis there was great analysis across the Civil Service in terms of preparedness for the economic impact it was going to bring about. That can now be re-enlivened and reimagined for this crisis. I commend the work that has been done in that area and suggest that we double down on it in the new context.”
“This was heralded by the OECD as an incredible programme. I think it can be used as a potential model for our approach. We also need to be careful about not ruling things out. Prior to these announcements, the Minister for Finance said that there will not be the same cost-of-living measures in this year's budget. As a party, we have been critical that over the last few years, the cost-of-living measures which were introduced as a response to inflation were not targeted enough. However, they have become something that people rely on. This is not the time to remove them. We urge that they become more targeted measures. For those Irish consumers who will face into increasing danger of poverty, cost-of-living measures have to be considered in the coming months in the run-up to the budget.”
“However, we learned from the Covid pandemic how important and positive it was to maintain that link between employer and employee. We believe that we can see a similar approach taken when we know exactly what sectors will be affected and how they will be affected. Then, we can provide those supports on a sectoral level so that those jobs can be maintained and so that our wonderful indigenous Irish businesses can be supported to pursue supply chains and markets which might replace those they have lost because of these tariffs. This will help them, in a transition period, to diversify their operations and offerings and to reposition themselves into a more tenable position. We believe that those supports can and should be provided. I also urge the Government to look at the Kurzarbeit programme from Germany.”
“I urge that we do everything in our power to prevent this from happening. I will speak on the motion on three levels; the domestic, European and global contexts. I have found it really disheartening that, over the past few days, Government spokespersons have essentially ruled out the types of supports we think are crucial for maintaining the connection between employer and employee. We have heard from the Minister for Finance and from the Taoiseach that the supports will not be made available. However, other spokespersons seem to have had a softer approach to it. I want to be clear that nobody from the Social Democrats is suggesting that we need to see the same scale of supports that were provided throughout the Covid pandemic.”
“We welcome this motion and thank our colleagues in Aontú for putting it forward. We welcome the opportunity this morning and later today to speak on tariffs. We urged that this time be made available so that we can discuss this crisis. We in the Social Democrats share deep concerns about the impact of these tariffs on Irish jobs, the economy and consumers. These concerns are shared across the globe because so many people will be impacted by them. In particular, I want to mention the news we woke up to this morning that pharma, as we had suspected, is going to be in President Trump's crosshairs. I want to speak to the people who have jobs in the sector and who are surely enduring incredible anxiety now as to what the impact will be for them. We anticipate that the tech sector may also be caught up in this.”
“We need to be more creative and more honest with ourselves, our voters and our constituents. Within that, of course we need to recognise that people engaged in manual labour and many other areas of the economy need to be considered and that retirement needs to be made available to them when they reach the appropriate age. However, we also need to recognise that many people choose to work further into their older years and we need to facilitate that as policymakers.”
“Age Action does a great job of tying the Bill back into A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023. The Social Democrats believe Age Action is right to call for clarity around the disparity between public and private. The Malin judgment also needs to be dealt with, both in the legislation and the code of practice, there needs to be better appeal and redress mechanisms for people and when the Bill is passed it needs to be accompanied by a robust information campaign, so that everybody knows what is available to them. To return to my first point, there has been a lot of what I would describe as head-in-the-sand discussion around retirement and pension age. The reality is that the retirement age was set at a time when life expectancy was significantly lower.”
“With today's technology and advancements, people's working lives should be getting easier and not harder. We need our labour market and social protection system to adapt to an older workforce who should be accommodated. The threat of poverty should not be used as a tool for encouraging compliance with arbitrary retirement age. Our gross pension replacement rates by earnings are well below the OECD average, at less that 30%, meaning that people are expected to live on significantly lower income in retirement in this country. Oftentimes, people do not have the fallback of downsizing, selling their house and so on, because of the increase in the number of older people renting. I have a couple more points to make. I endorse the Age Action submission on today's legislation, which I am sure the Minister has received.”
“Age-based discrimination needs to be addressed throughout the system. There are many places where it still exists and it is simply not justified. Public policy needs to address pension and retirement sustainability. Our tax base needs to be broadened. This is a message we are consistent with as the Social Democrats. We are a wealthy country but our economic model is simply unsustainable. If people are living longer, which we know they are, the intensity of work in different parts of life also becomes relevant. We need to explore things like a four-day working week and better social floors, including perhaps universal basic income. I say this because, essentially, instead of squashing it all into the current model of the middle of people's lives, we need to spread it out better so people can work longer into their older years.”