Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That does not mean of course that we do not have to be vigilant about this. We must be vigilant because the Government's position is not to undermine living standards or drive down the earnings of people because we worked too hard to build the economy and to build the living standards and quality of life for all concerned.

There are approximately 300 amendments tabled for the services directive, which is in draft form. It has a long journey to go. I am particularly keen that we ensure our basic laws, in terms of pay, rates and conditions, are protected from anything the services directive has to bring forward.

I listened to the debate in the House on the services directive and despite all the polemic commentary, everyone in the House stated by the way that they believed there should be some liberalisation and believed in the idea of access to markets.

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