Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I would like to speak about the events of last Friday. It is worth repeating that we do not often encounter times when our choices are clearly defined for us. I do not think it is sufficient for Senators to stand up and say we think something is a great idea. The Government of this country has a job to do. Almost 75 years ago, the late Mr. Dan Morrissey asked the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr. Seán Lemass, how many industrial inspectors there were in this country. He was told in 1932, when there were a few hundred thousand people at work in the private sector, that there were 16 such inspectors. We now have 21 inspectors and are waiting for more.

The fundamental issue here is no longer worker protection legislation but the enforcement of worker protection legislation. That is entirely within the Government's brief. It can decide there are enough inspectors with a mandate to do the work. It can change the law so that Gama can never go to court again and prevent the publication of a report on its exploitation of Turkish workers. That is what the Oireachtas and the Government can do and let the trade unions sort out the brutes who run Irish Ferries.

Speaking of brutes and since the Minister believes it to be true, he can say what he likes about people, I am entitled, presumably, to say what I like about him, but I will not. I will simply quote Mr. Justice Flood, who Members of this House——