Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I also welcome publication by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of an extensive outline policy proposal on immigration and residency. The publication facilitates public debate on this matter and like Senator O'Toole I call for a debate in this House on those proposals. I commend the Minister on publishing the proposals as just that in advance of the publication of a Bill. I suspect he would welcome such a debate in this House and I ask the Leader to schedule one at an early stage because there are many issues on which we need to get a much clearer perspective with regard to immigration and residency. One arises this morning regarding migrant workers and is just one of the issues to be reviewed. One of the purposes of the establishment of the Morris tribunal was to allay public concerns about certain behaviour in one part of the State. It is now clear this is not happening. The issues need to be reviewed, particularly the representation of Mr. McBrearty and the costs for his family at the tribunal. The tribunal cannot go ahead without the participation of the McBreartys.

The House must have a debate on one-off rural housing as the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has published guidelines on the matter.