Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I expect the Taoiseach recalls that the Lisbon strategy was supposed to make what it stated was a "decisive impact" on the eradication of poverty by 2010. Does he recall how I referred yesterday to the fact that SIPTU drew attention to the exploitation of building workers in certain areas, particularly in the midlands and the west? Does he not agree that the Lisbon strategy is not working domestically or internationally in terms of the member states and that measures both here and collectively through the European Council must be employed to address the major deficiencies and failures in ensuring that the goals of the Lisbon strategy are realised?

Insufficient attention is paid to the exploitation of workers, many of whom are being forced into low-wage return for their labour. This is happening right under our noses in constituencies across the country which the Taoiseach has visited and will visit over the course of the coming weeks.

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