Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

We will continue to do that. The record will show what we have done. I have been in discussions with the social partners and I share their concerns. The best way to advance the protection of workers is through social partnership. It offers the best opportunity for all concerned to use that forum as a basis for agreeing whatever new measures are required to ensure a greater degree of compliance with labour law and to examine the modalities of how we do that — we have an open mind on that score — in a wide range of areas to ensure the scenario which the Deputy has outlined does not become a reality.

There are numerous examples throughout the economy, particularly in advanced manufacturing and in other areas, where clearly the opposite has occurred. We are attracting employment that produces higher wages and a better quality of employment in information and communications technologies, software, pharmaceuticals and biopharma. That is the direction in which we want to go in future.

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