Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his reply, which is very similar to the response given on 24 October. Unfortunately, since that time the Minister's colleagues in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have not been able to provide the breakdown asked for.

Is it not time for the Department, or a relevant sub-agency within the Department, to take on the responsibility for proceedings, as the Revenue Commissioners have done? All of us have enough experience of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to realise this is very low on its priorities. It will not enter into prosecutions of this kind because the matter is low on the scale of criminality as far as the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is concerned.

I appreciate that the breakdown of employees and employers will be sent to me but the Minister might respond to my net question. There should be teeth to initiate prosecutions in order to give effective policing of the labour market, of which this is a part, along with the welcome addition of the labour inspectorate, or we will not go the final mile. If the Department depends on the Garda and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, there will be no value for the increase in inspections of the labour market.

Will the Minister consider taking back or giving the Department a power to initiate prosecutions, as the Revenue Commissioners have done? It was previously dependent on other agencies.

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