Alan Kelly (Labour)

I call on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister of State at his Department, Deputy Billy Kelleher, to debate the issue of jobs and wage structures. The Taoiseach recently replied to my party leader, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, regarding job losses in the construction and manufacturing industries, stating that he is confident they will be replaced by jobs in other sectors, that we will have 3% growth and an increase in employment growth of 1%. I hope he is right.

However, I am very concerned about the issue. While we may be able to replace some of the jobs in the pharmaceutical and information technology industries, although we have not had as much success as I had hoped for in that regard, that cannot negate the fact that a significant number of jobs all over the country are being lost in construction. In particular, I am concerned at any discrimination in the job losses between Irish and non-Irish workers. Plumbers, plasterers and so forth are losing their jobs. I urge the Government to consider a re-skilling programme, in lieu of third-level access, in 2008. That point is very important and I will continue to make it until we see some progress.

I support Senator David Norris in his call that any loophole in the minimum wage legislation be closed by the Government. I cannot stand here as my party's spokesperson on tourism and support the Irish Hotels Federation in what it is trying to do, which is disgraceful. It is no coincidence that it is within the tourism industry that the minimum wage is being attacked. The same happened with Irish Ferries which, because it is registered outside this country, is giving four-----