Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

There is an increased level of gender equality in the highest reaches of the public service as a result of a number of recent merited appointments, the latest to the position of Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. We should all welcome that, even though it has taken the best part of the 30 years, since the abolition of the marriage ban, to come to pass.

Everybody agrees that immigrant labour is essential to our economy at this time. The proper enforcement of the laws governing the use of such labour should be debated again because it is an important subject.