Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

It is clear that Irish and migrant workers are being offered agency employment rather than full-time employment. Is it also not clear that the situation regarding agency workers represents a blight upon, or a lacuna in, our employment legislation framework? We have nothing to protect such workers who have little or no job security and little or no access to sick pay, pension entitlements or other non-pay benefits. The rate of pay is generally lower than that of the regular workforce and collective representation or negotiations are virtually ruled out.

The Minister of State will recall the Irish Ferries dispute, which is of recent origin and fresh in our memories, and the GAMA construction scandal. Thankfully, with public support, satisfactory settlements were achieved for the workers in both companies. As a result, is it not clear from the public outrage expressed, that there is a glaring need to establish, as SIPTU has advocated, a threshold of decency in employment standards for all workers employed in Ireland?

I acknowledge that Towards 2016 contains a number of commitments to improve employment standards but these are all procedural. The point is that there is very little of substance. They will achieve nothing in the areas causing grave disquiet to workers. Does the Minister of State agree that unless the expectations of agency workers are tackled, this continuing exploitation will pose a threat to the rest of the workforce, which may also find its pay and conditions of employment undermined? It will have a knock-on effect. They are called atypical workers.

What is the position on this and why do Ireland, the UK and Hungary find themselves out of step? Does the Minister of State oppose the introduction of a draft European directive on the matter or should we not be prepared to take the bull by the horns and legislate for this important area?

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