Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

Senator Cullinane raised the interesting and admittedly important topic of workers' rights. It would be very useful to have a broad spectrum debate on that subject, if the Leader can arrange it. We can never get away from the fact that the most important right for every worker is the right to have a job. Our entire political and economic debate must be about getting people back to work and keeping people at work. When we look at the strong economies of Europe, especially Germany, where the unemployment rate is low, wages are strong and pensions are very secure, we have to concede that they have a certain flexibility in the labour market that does not exist in many other EU countries. The debate must not be simplistic. It must look at the fact that some countries are better at job creation than countries such as Ireland. We must have an in-depth discussion on that, because our political purpose in this House must be to assist people back to work.

I also agree with the call from Senator Sheahan that we discuss what he reported last night from O'Connell Street. We can find that in virtually every town across the country. Senator Noone has raised on several occasions the need to tackle the issue of "chugging"------