Seanad report: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said he had been absolutely assured by the Finansbank in Holland that all money held in the accounts of Gama employees would be given to the workers concerned.
A number of departmental inspectors would accompany a delegation of the workers on a visit to the bank with a view to providing complete reassurance that full access to the accounts would be made available and that workers' instructions about them would be honoured. Monitoring of the arrangements would be undertaken by the department along with workers' representatives.
Referring to the report of the Labour Inspectorate's investigation into alleged breaches of employment rights on the sites of Gama Construction Ireland and other companies, Mr Martin said he fully accepted and endorsed the recommendations which were addressed to various departments, the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda and a range of regulatory bodies. It was his intention to forward the report to those bodies so as to enable them to look into the consequences.
Opening a debate on the rights of migrant workers, Mr Martin said the positive economic outlook here meant that a considerable future expansion of employment and demand for labour was expected. Given the falling numbers of young people coming into the labour market there would be a need to mobilise labour supply from other sources, including from other countries.
A new employment permits Bill, which was currently in the final stages of preparation, would enshrine a number of protections for migrant workers.
Mary O'Rourke, leader of the House, warned that the Gama case, however it turned out, was only the tip of the iceberg as to what was happening in other companies.
David Norris (Ind) said this was not a good day for the Minister or his department. Where had the department been when this scandal was going on? The Minister had made "a big announcement" about contacting the Dutch bank, but, once again he was trailing after Deputy Higgins who had accompanied a group of Gama workers to the bank.
An apology was due to the workers for the lack of care by Irish officials for their interests and welfare. "It is clear they were the victims of an absolutely massive and scandalous fraud."