Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to participate in this debate, which is about several important issues that fall within my responsibility and that of my colleague, Deputy Killeen, Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs. Deputy Killeen has given the House a detailed account of measures introduced by this Government to secure and improve employment standards and the quality of our work. I do not intend going over the same ground. However, I totally disagree with the idea that the Department should be broken up again. That would be to go back 20 years.

See this speech in context