Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I suppose I had better not start outlining my illegal activities, because we would be here at least until tomorrow morning.

I commend the Independent Deputies who have brought this motion before the House. The services directive poses a grave threat to labour standards and existing rights. It is important the directive is discussed in the Dáil and that Deputies are given the opportunity to register their opposition to it. The onslaught on the rights of workers is under way. Their terms and conditions of employment are under attack. An increasing number of employers are attempting to displace their existing workforces and replace them with migrant workers on lower rates of pay and with diminished conditions. The services directive will bring this onslaught to a whole new level. It will attack the ability of the Government to protect and uphold the rights of workers within the State. Sinn Féin is vehemently opposed to the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market. The Dáil must send a clear signal to the EU that it will not accept the directive or tolerate workers' standards and conditions being shredded at the whim of faceless bureaucrats in Brussels. Members must be unanimous in our opposition to the directive. It is vital that the public should be made aware of how the Government intends to vote on this issue at the Council of Ministers if the directive makes it through the European Parliament.

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