Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

If the group has views on practices in any of these areas it can provide them in the report. There will be no restrictions and there is nothing to stop the group giving its views on embargos or other matters. The Deputy asked about Mr. Appleby who is in the process of getting additional staff. He has 36 staff at present and is getting additional numbers. The reason he is not getting them all is that we made a priority in that Department to put the staff into new inspection sectors dealing with compliance by workers. The number of inspectors has risen from 30 to 90. It rose to 60 last year and 90 this year.

We have set up a whole new division and it is a matter of priorities — it is not that Mr. Appleby's work is not considered important. He already has 36 staff, he is getting four this year and it is hoped he will receive another four. It is a question of prioritising the placement of staff.

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