Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The briefing simply told me that the Minister is awaiting the report but I understand that a draft of the report has been circulated in the interests of natural justice. If the report bears out what the Deputy is saying, and I am not casting doubt in any way on what he has said, then it is a total disgrace. All the forces of the State will have to be brought to bear on this issue to ensure it cannot recur. Of course, all the employees will have to receive their entitlements. As I said, the law does not discriminate in favour of Irish workers at the expense of others. We have a very successful economy. We have provided good employment, in the main, to immigrant workers, and we want that to continue. However, we do not want to see any worker, no matter who it is, exploited in the fashion the Deputy suggested.

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