Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. No Irish person will have been proud on reading about the plight of the Gama workers. Anyone who has worked can only feel sad about workers who have been allegedly treated like them. Other companies who employ migrant workers look after them as best they can and ensure their accommodation is top class and their wages are looked after in an orderly manner but, unfortunately, a number of companies which paid workers a fraction of the official union rate tendered successfully for contacts against companies who paid the appropriate rate. The Government must step in and penalise such companies. Many migrant workers are not housed in appropriate accommodation by these employers. In a number of cases senior company officials have purchased accommodation to house their migrant employees who, in turn, pay the mortgages for them.

We were grateful to take in migrant workers because there was a significant skills shortage a few years ago. Some of these workers had trades and other skills, which ensured production levels were maintained by many companies so that they could meet the urgent requirements of the marketplace. We would not be where we are if it were not for those workers. They have been employed in every factory in every town and village in the State and they have made a major contribution to our development and wealth over the past few years. It is disturbing to read about the low pay some of them received. The increase in the minimum wage is welcome and it at least provides a floor regarding what workers are entitled to be paid. I compliment the Minister of State in this regard.

Companies engaged in tourism and meat processing would have closed down years ago if it were not for migrant workers. Ireland has a highly educated population, many of whom have graduated from low skill to high skills jobs. As a consequence, migrant workers are required and it must be ensured they are looked after because many of them will return home to set up businesses and more of their compatriots will be required to ensure our economy continues to expand. Many Irish people have travelled abroad on work permits and it would be a sad day if we thought our emigrants had been treated in the same way non-national workers have been treated by a number of domestic companies. It would be a sad day if we thought that Irish emigrants in Australia and other countries might be treated in the fashion in which it appears some companies have treated non-national workers here. In examining that, we must not lose sight of the very good companies that paid the required rates and looked after employees as the permits ensured they would. I am aware of several in my own town in the midlands who are certainly being looked after and paid well. Unfortunately, from what we read in the newspapers, several companies have not honoured their commitments and have let down this country and the Government that gave them the permits to allow them to enter.