Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I raise the plight of 40 Polish workers employed at the Dublin Port tunnel whose contracts of employment are being examined by Government labour inspectors. It appears the Polish workers earn approximately half of what their Irish counterparts receive, notwithstanding the standard wage agreed by all companies involved in the construction industry. The failure to provide the Polish workers with holiday pay or overtime would constitute a gross exploitation of any category of employee, especially given our need for non-national workers to drive the economy. The Leader recently launched at Trinity College, Dublin, a book on the plight of female migrant workers. It again highlights the abuses which take place. It is unacceptable, and I call for a Minister to come into this House and make a statement in terms of how the Government is dealing with the matter.

I also subscribe to calls for a debate on the EU constitution. The constitutional treaty should be in the public domain and debated and ample information should be available to enable people make a decision. We should learn from the mistakes that were made with the first referendum on the Nice treaty. I hope that will not happen again and the Government will announce the date for the referendum so that the parties and groups involved can be up and running and the public can benefit.

When will the Veterinary Practice Bill come back before this House? It came before the House in December and there was a very good debate on Second Stage. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, wanted to make a number of observations in the Bill, however, it is now almost the end of February and people are becoming anxious. I would appreciate it if the Leader could ascertain when it will return to this House.