Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

It is precisely because I know how Council negotiations proceed that I have put this question. For those coming to Ireland as agency workers, particularly in the skilled and semi-skilled areas, the type of competition in question is not necessarily across borders from the continent to the island. Ireland is not suffering in attracting labour.

Ireland will remain attractive to other workers outside the island of Ireland. My concern is that we will institutionalise discrimination of indigenous workers. They will be at risk if there is a downturn in the economy, as we know there will be, but it will not be as large as some fear. The Minister of State knows what an employer would do if faced with the choice of cheap agency workers or letting Irish workers go to remain competitive, not in the continental market but in the Irish market. Irish workers will be let go because they are dearer than agency workers. This will be a problem for all of us, not just in the workplace. Endorsing the directive is important.

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