Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Without going into the detail of the Irish Ferries scandal, does the Taoiseach agree that the conduct of the employer in that particular case represents a threat to the very partnership process itself? Does he accept the practice of letting go Irish workers and replacing them with vulnerable workers from eastern Europe and elsewhere, who are to be paid outrageously low wages, is not only a threat to social partnership but also undermines all the best practices concerning the protection of the rights of the workers' concerned, and the rights of all workers? Does he agree it is not acceptable that IBEC has come out in support of the employer's position in the Irish Ferries dispute and that its stated position is also a threat to the continuation of the partnership process?

Will the Taoiseach take up the proposal in the motion tabled by me and the other Sinn Féin Deputies and call on the European Commission to introduce urgently a European ferries directive aimed at combating what is described as social dumping on ferries and at setting minimum labour standards to ensure an end to the exploitation of workers on all intra-EU passenger and ferry services? Has he noted that his colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, said in response to the proposal that he was quite taken with the idea of taking up the issue at European level. However, he felt there was nothing the Government could do. Does the Taoiseach agree it is imperative that this issue be raised at European level?

I was disappointed when the Taoiseach lumped Questions Nos. 1 to 15 together because the grouping incorporated Question No. 15, which I had tabled on the National Economic and Social Forum. Having noted the Taoiseach's welcome of the forum's report on early childhood care and education, I wonder, in light of the focus of my earlier question, whether the Taoiseach will indicate his acceptance of the key recommendations——

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