Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

In any event, I assure the House that there will be significant penalties in the new national employment rights legislation. There are now 76 inspectors employed in the National Employment Rights Authority. A further five are due to commence on 3 March and the appointment of inspectors to fill the four remaining posts is progressing. Five more vacancies arose with people retiring and so forth. We had to go through certain processes with the trade union movement on these issues. We did that faithfully and in the context of social partnership. It represents substantial and significant progress in building a strong national body to enforce employment rights. Over the past two years we have worked strongly on this issue and have delivered significantly with regard to social partnership.

With regard to the specific issue in the Deputy's question, significant progress has been made by the three Departments. A campaign was conducted last year for the construction sector and a total of 173 employers were identified. Contact by the joint investigation units was made with approximately 19 and there were eight joint site investigations. The units are up and running. Obviously, more work must be done on procedural issues and so forth between the three Departments. However, the combination of the three Departments will act as a significant deterrent to people who endeavour to abuse employees. The prospect of the Revenue Commissioners, labour inspectors and Department of Social and Family Affairs officials arriving at their door will be a spur to better behaviour by the more unscrupulous employers.

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