John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Sometimes I have difficulty pronouncing names much closer to home. It is a measure of the Minister's humanity that he did this and he is to be commended for it. The temporary visa has been issued for six months and arrangements are being made with the Irish section of the International Organisation for Migration to enable the young man to return to sit his leaving certificate. That is the outcome for which everybody hoped.

This morning the Archbishop of Dublin said that in criminal cases the Judiciary has frequently exercised discretion with regard to custodial sentences and deferred them to allow people sit examinations. That precedent was worthy of mention.

We should perhaps have a debate on all facets of multiculturalism, including immigration policy, employment policy, culture, the arts and so on. I share Senator O'Toole's view that this is not a left-wing issue about the way people are treated in employment. It is a humanitarian issue. There has been a succession of incidents, involving nannies, a young hairdresser on a ferry, the construction and meat processing industries and there is evidence of it happening on a limited scale in farming in Kilkenny, where thankfully the IFA has condemned the practice, if it exists.

We must consider these issues seriously, look again at the work permit system and decide whether the worker should hold the permit rather than the agency. While that may cause difficulties it is probably the best way to proceed. The problem is that these people are employed by contractors. The good companies employ people on contract labour without knowing what they are paid. That must be reviewed too. All these issues merit a wide-ranging debate after the Easter recess.