Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

It would be difficult to exaggerate the extent to which this section was considered in the various processes undertaken before the Bill was published. I will not bore the House with the details, some of which would hardly be appropriate in any event. It is a balanced response to some of the submissions which were made. I am aware of the views of congress and of the employers. I am perfectly aware that neither may be particularly happy with the section and perhaps that is a good sign.

In view of the amount of work it took and the strong arguments I made in response to Deputy Howlin on Committee Stage, were I to in any way dismantle what was reached, I would do considerable damage to my intent to transpose the directive as accurately as possible in a fair and balanced manner.

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