Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

While the Senator means well, I do not agree with the amendment. Part of a proper structure is the imposition of fines on those who do not obey the law. We cannot, on the one hand, welcome people from the accession countries by establishing a proper framework and then not fine those who seek to exploit them. That is what would happen. If people are brought to this country without going through proper procedures, they will be exploited. They will not be paid proper wages or given proper conditions of employment. Their rights will not be safeguarded. The fine is a safety bolthole, as it were, to deal with those who would be exploitative. That is the reason I heartily approve of it.