Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I assure the Deputy that 31 labour inspectors have been appointed. Issues arose regarding their recruitment and training and it took three separate recruitment campaigns to achieve the full complement. This is a complex area and the inspectors cannot operate unless they know the rules.

The number of inspections is interesting. I am not sure whether the same method of calculation is used now compared with 2002. However, a number of inspections, including that referred to by the Deputy, involves considerable manpower over several weeks. It has not been brought to a successful conclusion from the perspective of many of the participants. It can be misleading to compare the numbers of inspections. I expect the number of inspectors will increase in the context of social partnership. The review of the mandate and resources of the labour inspectorate raises many issues, other than the staffing level, such as the measures that need to be taken to enable the inspectorate to carry out its duties and a statutory requirement on employers. I take the Deputy's point regarding the need to review the penalties. That will happen in the context of the review of resources and mandate.

The Minister launched a campaign, Know Before You Go, last year aimed at workers in EU accession states. It advises people before they travel to Ireland to be aware of the challenges they will have to deal with following disturbing stories about non-nationals who came to Ireland expecting to be employed but who had difficulty sourcing employment when they arrived. In the majority of instances, a subcontractor was involved but the subcontractor was from the same country as the workers and they were paid less than the minimum wage.

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