Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I welcome the amendments and the response of the Government, as well as the fact that the Minister has indicated that before a decision is made by ministerial order on opening up the Irish labour market to both new countries, Bulgaria and Romania, it will be brought before the House and the House will have a chance to discuss it. It is appropriate we should do so.

The postponement of the decision of the European Commission until September, with the support of the Council, provides an added incentive for the Bulgarians and Romanians to get their houses in order. They barely meet the very onerous standards of the acquis communautaire. I gathered from my conversation with the socialist Prime Minister of Bulgaria that postponement until September is being seen as an added incentive for them to bring forward more of the necessary changes, particularly in the judiciary and in matters relating to corruption.

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