Dr. Desmond Ryan:

No. The cornerstone of EU employment and social policy is the flexicurity imperative I mentioned, which is "flexi" as in flexi-time and security of employment as opposed to job security. Flexicurity seeks to promote and harness circumstances where there is a balance of flexibility and security for the individual worker. This measure, which seeks to pursue that aim, would be in accordance with that ideal. However, as we have all indicated, the Bill as currently presented would pose significant problems and is not in accordance with the Court of Justice's approach with regard to objective justification for the employer being able to defend a claim. Certainly, what is being pursued by the Bill is very much in accordance with European employment and social policy and is a good thing.