Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Not quite. I have gone over the border to Kilkenny an odd time and, indeed, to east Cork as well. Thankfully, we know the people.

The people give loyal service and I salute them. One retired recently after 25 years, so I must not have been that bad an employer. I am only making the point that businesses cannot work without good employees but one must have respect for employees as well. It is a two-way street. If we are discriminating just because of where people come from, where they were born, who their parents were or whatever, that is wrong at a time when we have such a plethora of calls for equality on this, that and the other. The latest one is in regard to bullying. One will be afraid to come in here and say anything in a couple of years in case we will be accused of bullying. It has gone over the top. That is why this Bill by Deputy O'Callaghan is timely.

I compliment Deputy O'Callaghan on bringing forward much legislation since he arrived here. I wish the Deputy well and I provide support where support is necessary, but I hope to table amendments to this Bill. In other areas there is too much legislation but with the 20-year gap here, this is a timely review. I hope that when it is teased out in committee, amendments have been tabled and it passes through the House, it will not languish somewhere as has happened with some legislation, where it gets forgotten about and never gets implemented. That is a serious issue in the system. We pass legislation with good intentions, and there might angst and upset about it. However, we must wait to see if it is implemented, or ask whether or when it will be implemented.

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