Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

The Portlaoise to Cashel road is opening this week. The Government is investing 5% of GDP in the capital programme next year, which is a very serious investment in such a difficult economic time.

Senator Alan Kelly expressed his views on the "Prime Time Investigates" programme on RTE last Monday which dealt with the underpayment of wages to non-national workers. Everybody abhors that. The Senator called on the chief executive officers of the companies in the construction and other industries covered by that programme to condemn such actions. That is not a bad idea. There was a resignation yesterday from one of the national organisations. These practices should not have happened in a time of full and plenty. There is no excuse or reason for it. When Irish people went throughout the world to work, they did their best and the worth of their expertise and endeavour was acknowledged. No country's son or daughter should be treated in the way alleged in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme last Monday.

Senator Regan called on the Taoiseach to discuss his views on the Lisbon treaty. I wish the Taoiseach well on his tour of Europe to meet European leaders. He travels to Germany this morning to meet the German Chancellor. The tour is in advance of the meeting of European Heads of Government next week. I wish the Taoiseach well in his discussions on the issue.