Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Finucane's call for a debate on the exploitation of workers in Ireland. The latest incident involving the Latvian workers is a disgrace. Another instance recently came to my attention. An employer engaged a recruitment company to recruit a temporary member of staff. The employer was offering a wage of €13 per hour but the recruitment company only passed on €7 per hour of that wage. That is a disgrace.

If that is still happening in this day and age and in this country, it is an example of a bad memory on our part when one considers that the Irish who emigrated were looked after and treated well. If we do not deal with this situation decisively, we should look — and God forbid that it happen here — to the hatred and resentment that have been incited to cause the current rioting and unrest in France. We must deal with these issues decisively and immediately and treat these people with the respect and fairness with which we and our ancestors were treated in America, England and elsewhere.