Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The matter to which I am about to refer involves European and Irish legislation. As the Taoiseach is aware, an EU directive designed to protect temporary and agency workers was introduced in 2002. The number of such workers has increased by some 500% in recent years. Since 2002, the Government, with those of two other EU member states, has stalled this directive. Given the suffering and bad pay and conditions agency and temporary workers must endure and in the light of the totally disgraceful way they are often treated by many employers, will the Government be supporting, at the European Commission on 5 December, moves to bring forward legislation in respect of these workers? In view of the fact that temporary and agency workers are often treated with callous disregard, will the Government introduce domestic legislation to protect them? People are sacked at a moment's notice. I expected the Taoiseach to have an interest in this area but he has done nothing about it in 11 years.

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