Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I disagree with Senator Leyden's points and his proposal. I welcomed this Bill on Second Stage when I said it should go further rather than have a safety clause in section 3, subsections (3) and (4), which I will seek to delete on Report Stage. The Senator's suggestions are absurd. There will not be a flood of people into Ireland from accession countries in 2004. He is contradicting everything the Minister said on Second Stage as well as the Government's view that the economy is still healthy despite the slow-down. There are no signs we will need to use the safety clause or be cautious in the manner suggested by the Senator. The Minister said that previous experience had not shown that there would be a flood of people into Ireland from applicant countries when the 2004 provisions took effect. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats need to decide what their story is on the economy – it is either healthy or it is not. On the one hand, we are told community employment schemes are no longer necessary and, on the other, the Government is being cautious and worried about the matter.