Gama workers meet as Lenihan faces pressure to resign

Striking Turkish workers at the construction firm Gama are due to meet with SIPTU officials in Dublin this afternoon to be briefed on the latest developments in their dispute with the company.

Hundreds of the company's workers have been on strike for several weeks as part of a campaign to secure pay they believe they are owned by the Turkish employers.

The matter was originally raised by Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who said Gama was paying its Turkish workforce less than €3 an hour for an 80-hour working week.

Meanwhile, Junior Minister Conor Lenihan is still facing calls for his resignation today after making a xenophobic slur about the workers in the Dáil yesterday.

During a debate on another matter, Mr Lenihan told Mr Higgins that he should "stick with the kebabs".

He later apologised and withdrew the remark, but is still facing calls to step down from his position.

Last night, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, in whose department Mr Lenihan works, said he believed the apology was the end of the matter and there was no need for the junior minister to resign.