Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The first report of the Morris tribunal has not yet been debated in either House of the Oireachtas. It is an issue of great concern to many people and is being widely discussed in the media and other places. As far as I recall, it was published in early July last year. I do not believe we have had the opportunity to debate it, but I am open to correction on that. I have not contributed to any debate on the matter, which I do not believe was on our agenda.

I know Members of the Oireachtas are concerned over what is going on there. It has been suggested to me that people who were found guilty of perjury by that tribunal are still giving evidence in the courts on behalf of the Garda Síochána. I do not know whether this is true but I believe these are issues which should be aired and discussed. I would welcome the opportunity to do that.

We have had discussions on a number of occasions in this House with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the issue of immigration. The Minister has today produced a pretty extensive document — a discussion document that is neither a Green Paper or a White Paper — on immigration. On glancing through the document, it touches on many of the issues which we have asked be discussed, although no decisions have been taken. I believe that this is the House where that should be debated and I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform within the next few weeks so that the Seanad may have the opportunity to discuss the document which deals with such issues as economic migration, family reunification and all the relevant matters we have discussed. Now is the time to influence legislation before it is published.

I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, on ignoring the whingeing, selfish and ungenerous shouting and bleating from IBEC, the employers' body, over recent weeks. He has introduced a much welcomed increase in the minimum wage. It is part of what we wanted and expected and it is significant that he has had the courage to do that. We did not have IBEC representatives on hand yesterday to look at the exploited workers and the disadvantaged firms in Ireland, as regards the Gama issue. Neither are they on hand today to look at people who are at the lowest level of payment in this country. This is something which the House should welcome and we should thank the Minister of State for moving swiftly in this regard. Finally, I welcome the fact that the Buckley review on higher level salaries in the public sector and other places is being re-established by the Minister. I would like to advise the press, media and the House that this initiative is 18 months late. It should have been brought in a year ago. This does not affect Deputies and Senators, as was the case previously, but is to be welcomed, nonetheless.