Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

May I first wish everyone a happy Easter.

Senator Brian Hayes welcomed wholeheartedly the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's reversal of his decision. Members on all sides of the House echoed these sentiments. When I was asked to approach the Minister on the matter, he was arriving back in the country that evening, but I spoke to his private secretary and told her that everyone in this House had put forward the proposition on the young man, to which she listened very carefully. I welcome the fact that everyone appreciates the action the Minister has taken. It appears a waste of time for this man to have done his studies and not receive the certificate which would provide him with a passport to work in another country.

This raises another matter which overlaps the first issue to some extent, namely, migrant workers. Before Christmas, I launched a debate in the SIPTU headquarters on a wonderful study on migrant female workers who were almost in bonded labour, which was an appalling situation. The debate has speeded up because this is now happening all over the country. We only hear about the high profile cases. These include Gama Construction and some agricultural industries. I was pleased that the IFA spoke out quickly against these industries.

We will have a wide-ranging debate in this House on the issue on the first day back after the break. Senator Ryan said the Department should be pro-active in this regard. Imagine officials in the Department stating they got no complaints from people who do not have the language. How would these people know where Kildare Street is or how to complain in a language they are just beginning to assimilate?

This is an extraordinary situation. As Senator O'Toole said, contractors putting forward bids for building contracts are doing so under the labour laws appertaining to workers in this country. It is nothing against the Turkish employer, but such companies are under-cutting others because they are paying people so little. We should have a wide debate in this House on that issue. The people are ahead of us. They were ahead of us in regard to the student. We are aware that the people would not thank us if we were flooded by asylum seekers. However, there are occasions when the people are ahead of us and we are running to catch up.

There is a serious issue with asylum seekers sitting in their mobile homes and not being allowed to work in this country. There are 400 of them in Athlone, sitting in their mobile homes and looking out the window for three and four years. Their children are being educated which is very helpful but these people cannot work. I know people who are highly qualified but who cannot work. These people have no life.

We should include the ESRI report in any such debate. It said that we are losing out in an economic sense by not availing of the work input of these migrant workers who want to contribute to the economy. There are significant delays in making decisions on the status of these people. Children get bedded into the community. They go to school and make friends, as do the women and men. These issues will have to be highlighted.

Senator O'Toole thanked the Minister for what he did. It is interesting that this House reached a common cause on the matter, which was delivered to the Minister's office. It is important that these things happen. Reference was made to HSA regulations and farm workers. When I heard about the farm workers on the news last night, it reminded me of the tattie hokers who emigrated from Donegal to Scotland decades ago. They were put up in old sheds and there was a huge fire in which 80 of them were burned to death. I will inquire if the Minister is available for a debate on the issue on the first day back.

Senator Ryan praised the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and said that people should be pro-active. What is the point in saying they got no complaint? Do they want it written in triplicate in the language of the country?

Senator Ryan also referred to the child who was taken into care and the fact that social workers have significant powers. There is something new happening, which I hate. If one makes a complaint, one is cut off in mid-sentence. That woman asked for some respite help, which was a normal thing to do. It appears that because she did so, the child was snatched. He went to school and he never came back. He was taken from school.

Senator Dardis praised the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin. I also praise the Archbishop because he seized the mood of the minute. The Senator said the debate should centre on multiculturalism in general, which we should welcome. The asylum debate began against a background of distrust, distaste and so on. That has all changed because these people are contributing to the communities in which they live.

Senator Coghlan referred to the Nigerian student. The Senator wants the foreign deer culled, not the home species.