Vol. 449 No. 8
110 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Marine the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Enterprise and Employment with regard to the employment of non-EU citizens, without work permits, to fulfill dredging contracts in the harbours at Cork, Waterford and Malahide, County Dublin. [4633/95]
The employment of non-EU nationals by sub-contractors on EU funded projects at very low wages was the subject of discussions between the Department of the Marine and the Department of Enterprise and Employment last year. At that time the Department was advised that no action could be taken on this matter. However, as this matter has come to the fore again and in view of the serious concern there is about this practice, which I share, my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Deputy Eamon Gilmore has raised the issue with the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. He has asked that this matter be examined again with a view to ascertaining what steps, if any, can be taken to deal with the problem.
