As victorious Turkish Workers Action Group negotiates a return to work on GAMA sites having won almost all of their demands re conditions and wages, the Irish Government excel in foreign affairs diplomacy with their true feelings regarding migrant workers in our country
— 
Junior Minister (for Overseas Development) Conor Lenihan has been forced to apologise publicly after making a racist remark in the Dáil about Turkish migrant workers.
The Fianna Fáil TD was caught on microphone saying that Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins should ‘stick to the kebabs’, a reference to his campaign on behalf of Gama Construction workers.
After hearing the remarks, Mr Higgins told the Dáil: ?Taoiseach, the snide comment from behind you that I should stick with the kebabs, referring to my fight against exploitation of GAMA workers ill behoves the Minister for Overseas Development.?
Realising his comments had been caught, Deputy Lenihan later returned to the Dáil to withdraw the remarks and apologised for any offence caused.
(iol/tcm)