Brendan Ryan (Labour)

In respect of the issue of people trafficking, which was raised by Senator Brian Hayes and Senator O'Toole, I do not understand why we are so slow with regard to this issue. This country has a well-developed sensitivity about issues which arise in poor countries and affect poor people. It is one of this country's great qualities. That 300 unaccompanied minors who came to this country seeking asylum have gone missing and that the number is increasing should have us exploding with anger. Similarly, the fact that, according to organisations campaigning against trafficking, more women and children were enslaved by trafficking during the 1980s than were enslaved from Africa during the 400 years of the slave trade should concern us.

I want the Government to introduce legislation quickly and I want us to be very clear that anyone involved in what is called the sex trade, including lap dancing clubs, who is found to employ illegal immigrants should be presumed to be a party to trafficking and should have to prove he or she was not involved. Otherwise his or her assets should be confiscated. There should be no room for ambiguity. Anybody who employs people in dubious circumstances in any area related to sexual abuse ought to pay a penalty. I appeal to the Government to do this.

Will the Leader indicate if she could find time at least to initiate a debate on the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill 2006, which is on the Order Paper? It is a complicated issue which will never grab headlines, and neither the Leader nor I will get votes out of it but it is worth pursuing.

We have not yet had a debate on nursing homes and that issue will not go away. It is getting more complicated and more difficult to understand what the Health Service Executive is doing in terms of its reporting, inspection and other procedures. We have been promised a debate on this issue for some time and we should have it.

The EU announced yesterday that it is seeking yet further massive cutbacks in fish catches. The west and the south have relied on fishing to a considerable extent to keep people working in those regions. If our fisheries are to be effectively wiped out, that will be yet another blow to those regions. The fish caught in our waters by other than Irish trawlers since we joined the EU is probably worth approximately €30 billion. That is what we gave away. If we made a decision to give that away, that is fair enough, but if we are to give away what is left or wipe it out, I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on the issue in the immediate future.