Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

If the Government could take unilateral action last year to ensure that social welfare resources were protected by denying new member states' citizens the right to claim social welfare here for two years, despite the fact this may breach European law, why can it not act unilaterally, and take its chances in the European Court with a clear, stateable case, to safeguard Irish workers, social partnership and decent standards of industrial relations?

I expect a direct answer to my next question. Has the Taoiseach raised this issue this week at the EU-Mediterranean Summit, when the Heads of Government of all the member states are present with him? What was their response? What is the attitude of Government to the EU directive on manning conditions that it shamefully voted down last year? Will it at this late stage revisit the directive, support it and build a consensus so that decent standards apply on all ferries operating in the Union?

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