Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am told that is not a practical suggestion because the vast majority of the meat factories refuse to engage with trade unions, which, again, is a concern. Surely, that should be a threshold in regard to work permits.

On another point, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, MRCI, compiled a really devastating report, Working to the Bone, on the meat industry just last year. Has Ms Ward read the report? Has she taken note of what is in that report in terms of the manner of exploitation in this industry and the manner of fear in this industry? It concerns me. Ms Ward mentioned that most interested parties welcome this legislation. I do not believe the Irish Congress of Trade Unions welcomes this legislation and I do not believe my union, SIPTU, would recommend this legislation. These people are in dreadful conditions at work. I can tell Ms Ward that from first-hand experience, having tried to organise them and having seen them fired any time they try to join a trade union. I wonder why the Department does not appear to have taken any of these factors into account, particularly when they were raised by Peter Rigney, among others, at the committee just two years ago.