Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I would be delighted if this debate was unnecessary. However, as it is necessary, I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on it. As a person who was an emigrant and who worked across the water I can speak from practical experience and say that I did not share the fate of the Gama workers or their recent experience. Whether we speak to employers of the Gama workers or others, there can be no hiding place for people who treat workers in this fashion. It is a typical example of man's inhumanity to man.

Some years ago we all read and heard about the Irish tatie hokers who went to Scotland. We know how much attention that story drew and how their treatment was condemned. The influx of the Gama workers and others to this country is an enrichment of the work force. They should and must not be treated any differently from others. If they are doing the job, they deserve the same pay. It is outrageous that people must take to the streets in protest, as we have witnessed. Having heard this debate from its inception it is clear the issue is not the preserve of any section or side of the political divide. This matter exercises the mind of every Member of the Oireachtas and must be addressed appropriately.

The only access to Ireland, a country on the periphery of the European Union, is by water or air. There are difficulties in a number of trades, not least the catering and construction trades, where it is difficult to get certain categories of workers. If we have created a situation where we welcome through advertisement in the international media non-national workers to our shores, proper working conditions, proper levels of pay and, above all, proper treatment of those workers should obtain. Nothing less is or will be acceptable.

I strongly support the comments of every speaker. One of the disadvantages of speaking later in a debate is much of what one would like to say has been said but we will not boil the cabbage twice. The Minister of State has an in-depth interest in ensuring migrant workers should be treated the way we would all like to be treated, fairly and squarely.