Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Can we deal with the facts? The number of labour inspectors has not yet been increased from 20 to 31. A recent response to a parliamentary question made it clear that there were sixteen and a half inspectors. Just four of the ten new posts mentioned by the Taoiseach have been filled. Therefore, there are twenty and a half labour inspectors, in my language. We are not talking about the complement — we are talking about the number of labour inspectors actually in the service. I would like to comment on the report submitted by the labour inspectorate to the Government. According to The Irish Times of 8 April last:

Lack of staff, resources, training and legal support is hampering the pursuit of employers who exploit their workers, labour inspectors have told the Government. Confusing legislation, inadequate powers, ambiguous targets and a lack of clarity on their roles are also hindering their work, the inspectors say in a confidential document [submitted to the Government].

That is the actual position. We are facilitating the development of an underclass of cheap labour in this economy. We can see on our television screens the implications elsewhere in western Europe of alienating an underclass who are abused.

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