Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I understand why he might not accept the amendment. The new code of practice is at an early stage in terms of its operation. There is no doubt about that. Some of the changes made represent an improvement on the previous code of practice that showed over the past few years that it was no longer worth the paper it was written on. That is based on the direct experience of workers and trade unions who were using it.

The Minister and I will have a difference of opinion on this but we need to move beyond reliance on codes of practice in this space. In recent years, bogus self-employment, especially in cities, has become a feature of the labour market in this country. We will end up regretting that in the coming years. My view, generally speaking, is that employment status should become a matter of law, as is the case in some of the countries against which we like to compare ourselves. We have a journey to travel in this country in that regard. The Minister and I have a difference of opinion as to how all of this should be determined, but I thank him for his response.