My speech in the Dáil on the Sinn Féin bill on Tips and Gratuities. If our bill becomes law then it would make it illegal for an employer to withhold, deduct, or demand the return of a tip from an employee without a lawful excuse.
It would also require businesses to display their tipping policy on a menu or in a similarly prominent manner.

None of these payments should be used to make up the national minimum wage or should be kept by the employer to cover breakages, or the cost of those who have done a runner or as additional profit for the employer or owner of the restaurant, bar and so on.

Speaking in the Dáil on the Private Members motion on Drugs Task Forces.

In my speech I highlighted issues around the lack of proper funding and provision of resources to Drug task forces and those involved in Drug Projects.  Funding was cut from 2008 to 2014 and has been frozen since 2014.  I also spoke about the intimidation of families over drug debts and my concerns about grooming children to act as drug couriers.

I also paid tribute in my speech to a great anti-drug and community activist John ‘Whacker’ Humphries who passed recently.   ‘Whacker’ Humphries and those who worked in the anti-drug movement showed great courage and were an inspiration to their local communities.