Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Last week, we discussed the situation at Irish Ferries on the Order of Business. Our industrial relations machinery and the institution of social partnership have once again vindicated themselves with both sides attending the Labour Court. Senator Finucane referred to working conditions for immigrants and the labour market generally, which will clearly be important subjects for the forthcoming social partnership negotiations. The Government should not be afraid to set and enforce standards, whether they relate to employment or the height of lorries. We simply cannot allow the market to decide all these maters for us, otherwise it would have undesirable social consequences.