Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

These individuals are fantastic in that they do jobs many Irish people will not do. I ask the Government to give serious consideration to establishing an independent body that would report to this House at regular intervals on the treatment of these workers. There are terrible stories about people who are not paid properly, who work in appalling conditions, who have no rights and whose employers assume unfair or unreasonable positions. An independent body, with a remit similar to that of the Ombudsman, should be established and should report to the House in respect of this matter.

We need the people to whom I refer. They are welcome here, they do an important job and they should be protected. It is a disgrace that these cases are coming to the public's attention, through the national media, on a daily basis. Will the Leader arrange a short debate on this matter following the Easter recess? The House must be constantly aware of this problem.