Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, was not present earlier when Senator Harte spoke about the Irish, particularly from Donegal and the west of Ireland, who went mainly to Scotland over the years and the way they were exploited on many occasions. Senator Mooney has just spoken in a similar manner. Given that the Irish have had such experience of being exploited in the past, there is a determination that we have legislation in this country that will work well in ensuring that no similar exploitation occurs to foreign nationals coming to our country.

The aspect of this that jolted me, and it was mentioned in this debate, is that when Mohammad Younis arrived here, he did so legally. He was legally employed for that first year. It was the action of the employer in not renewing the work permit that made it illegal. Now that this has come to light, the danger is that other employers will see not renewing work permits as a clever way to exploit people. There is an responsibility on us not just to correct this, but to do so immediately. This is a very simple Bill. It is on one page and consists of a couple of paragraphs. The objective is to ensure that the Bill can pass quickly. I hope it can become law.

The Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, and the Minister, Deputy Bruton, have told us that they intend to introduce a much more extensive Bill next year, but my experience, particularly with the Construction Contracts Bill which is taking so long to become law, is that anything can delay a Bill, particularly an extensive one which I understand might have as many as 60 sections. I believe it is important to pass this Bill, hopefully in the next few weeks. It seeks to protect people who might be exploited. It is important to do that.

I have some experience with this. I introduced a Passports for Sale Bill a number of years ago which sought to ban the sale of passports. The then Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, said he could not object to anything in that short Bill and he allowed it to pass Second Stage. However, he said he intended to introduce a wider Bill on passports to cover not just that aspect but also other areas. I achieved what I set out to do. It took a little longer, but it was a wider Bill and incorporated what I was seeking. It is important, therefore, that we pass this legislation on Second Stage today. Hopefully, it will be passed by the Seanad in a short period of time. If we do that, I hope it will be put before the Dáil. A number of Deputies have said they would use their own time to get the Bill through. It just requires the enthusiasm of the Minister to say that while it is not everything, it closes a gap. On that basis, he could incorporate it in the more extensive Bill he will produce later.

Mohammad Younis, Siobhán O'Donoghue and Gráinne O'Toole from the Migrant Rights Centre, and particularly Dr. Brian Hunt, who helped me with this Bill, are enthusiastic about and have given their commitment to this Bill, and I believe it will achieve what we set out to do. It will not achieve everything on work permits, as the Minister will deal with that in the bigger Bill next year. However, it is important that we pass this Bill tonight.

On that basis we will do not just Mohammad Younis and his colleagues, who are the foreign nationals who are working here, a service, but will also protect the good name of Ireland for the years ahead. I urge the Minister of State to agree to the Second Reading of the Bill.