David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am speaking to amendment No. 3, which is similar to the amendment tabled by Senator van Turnhout. I support both amendments. My arguments are in the same vein as those made by Senator van Turnhout.

I pay tribute to Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, which has done extensive work in the preparation of the Bill, in lobbying all of us and in highlighting issues that have affected migrant workers for many years. I pay tribute to the work done by those involved. They have argued robustly that the law containing the lacuna identified by Mr. Justice Hogan in the Younis case and provided for in this legislation needs to be strengthened to ensure that exploitation is addressed by the inclusion of a provision stating that any contravention by the employer is the result of or a feature of exploitative work practices. The problem is that nowhere in the Younis provision does the legislation refer to exploitative work practices, and that must be rectified. This was the problem identified by the judge. It is a serious omission from the Bill and it should be included. We will be pressing our amendment to a vote and I will be supporting amendment No. 2 tabled by Senator van Turnhout.