Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It is fair with the exception of the Deputy's suggestion that the services directive does not constitute a high priority. The development of services will always be a high priority as the employment return is huge and it is the direction in which most developed countries are headed. The Deputy is correct that the advice to me is that the services directive is not a huge step forward and this is also my assessment of it. I welcome the opportunity to approach this issue in a calm manner as I felt the debate got out of hand last year.

Ireland needs an informed debate on the positive and negative aspects of the liberalisation of world trade and the EU market. This must include discussion of the protection of fundamental labour laws and workers' rights while at the same time endeavouring to pave the way for our services companies. The issue must be examined from a macro point of view with consideration given to where the economy has gone in the past eight years.

Some of the barriers in Europe facing recruitment agencies are very real in terms of how some countries impose a variety of ——

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