Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I welcome what the Minister of State has said. I suggest he tell all the mushroom industry representatives he meets that under no circumstances will work permits be granted to them for workers coming from outside the EEA. There is a suggestion that applications are being made for Chinese and Thai workers to come into mushroom enterprises because eastern European workers, who are now full citizens of the European Union, are no longer staying in those plants. I expect the Minister of State is as familiar as I am with all the evidence which SIPTU, particularly Mr. Mike Jennings and others, have gathered.

On the basis that we are sharing the same information, will the Minister of State say that he is considering an ERO or a joint labour committee-type floor hourly rate, irrespective of the nature of the contract, because we had something similar as regards contract cleaning in the 1980s? Such a regulation should be imposed by the Department. Will he say that given the EU workforce as it currently stands, certainly with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, under whatever working arrangements are provided for by the Department, no applications for work permits will be entertained from persons outside that area, and that there will be a vigorous programme of inspection, regulation and invigilation of this sector? The mushroom sector is a good story in our agrifood business. Those who comply with the law, make a fair profit and pay decent wages will not be undercut by unscrupulous employers.

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