Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

Will the Leader of the House arrange for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to this House in the new year to discuss the very important issue of press freedom? He has on a number of occasions, including in this House, given his views on the press, but there is a very important and current issue of freedom of the press and sources, on which I do not intend to comment, that raises major issues for us as Members of the Oireachtas but also in particular for the media as it operates in Ireland. It would, therefore, be useful for us to hear from the Minister.

The same Minister has spoken regarding proposals to introduce a green card system for skilled workers. My concern, shared by Members of the House, is that there would be no protection for unskilled workers in that context in light of reports of how foreign domestic workers are treated here. I ask the Leader of the House, therefore, to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House in the new year, whenever he is available, to speak on that issue.