I begin by touching on that last subject, because I watched back proceedings yesterday evening from my hotel and I am sure I am not the only person who was genuinely dumbstruck at the unbridled arrogance on display there. It was just appalling and was meted out to people from all parties at the meeting. It was totally unacceptable. Senator McDowell makes a valid point, namely, we at times forget it is governments, which are elected by the people, that have the power.

Some chance.

Senator Craughwell makes a fair point as well. Miriam Lord's description of said civil servant as "the prince of permanent government" struck a bell. It is not acceptable for any civil servant to come in and react in that way. We have a right to ask questions and receive answers, and that did not happen yesterday.

The main issue I raise relates to a group of men called the Murphy 4. These four workers were based in Limerick at the Aughinish plant. They worked for Murphy International, a very well-known construction company that gained millions of taxpayers' money from public contracts in Ireland and in Britain, where its headquarters are. These men were sacked in a union-busting exercise. They had over 50 years of collective service at the plants. They are mechanical engineers, skilled men, and ordinarily very sought after, but strangely enough they have not been able to find work since. We know there is an established practice of blacklisting in the construction industry. I believe it is the reason these men, who have an impeccable work record, have been unable to find work since they were dismissed.

Hear, hear.

They were dismissed because they asked for negotiation of their being underpaid by €4.50 an hour in relation to the sectoral employment order, SEO, specifying the legal rates that should apply for skilled jobs such as those at the plant and across Ireland. Their boss came in after half an hour and simply told them they were all suspended. The management suspended all the workers and emailed nine of them to bring them back, but these four were dismissed. They were dismissed because, in the previous dispute over the same issue seven years before, they stood up for their rights as workers and were threatened with sacking. In the minutes of the meeting, the four were actually told they did not show enough remorse for asking for a negotiation. This is a company that receives millions in taxpayers' money from our Government. Its behaviour brings home the issue of what we are doing about procurement. Why are we giving business to companies that treat workers with such disdain, have no respect for trade unions and no respect for workers' rights? This is what our Government is doing and what the British Government is doing. We have no control over the latter but we must address this matter.

We must also address the appalling unfair dismissal legislation, which is no use to these workers, because they will be waiting years to get their case heard and then they will be limited to a maximum of two years, or less if they secure a job elsewhere. This company took a calculated decision to victimise these workers to send a message to the rest that if they join a trade union and stand up for their rights, they will not get work in the company. Something needs to be done. I call for an urgent debate on workers' rights. These are decent working men. One of them broke down yesterday when he was making his presentation, because he has not had any income. He was not even able to sign on, because the Government made it clear he was sacked. That is what is happening in our country.

Well said.