Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

An agency workers' directive is due to be discussed at the Council of Ministers meeting tomorrow, 5 December. Given that previously the Irish, British, Danish and German governments blocked this measure, what is the Irish Government's position in relation to such a directive now? Will the Taoiseach support the directive on this occasion and will it be a matter to be addressed at the upcoming summit?

During recent questions — this is where I take some encouragement — the Taoiseach indicated that it was his and the Government's intention to address this matter so in the context of that previous reply can he give us some positive indication today? Accepting that in order to block off all exploitative avenues of what I can only describe as a very vulnerable sector of the workforce — pay and conditions are the critical area — can the Taoiseach confirm that the directive suggests that after a period of six weeks agency workers will be treated exactly the same as all other workers? Is it the case, despite his earlier indication to me that this is a matter he wanted to see addressed, that the Irish Government is of the view that this period of time is too short? Is that the situation he has been arguing? Given the support of the trade union sector in Ireland for the introduction of the directive and the six-week period, following which all workers, irrespective of their being directly employed or agency placed, will be treated exactly the same, will he not back the trade union call for Government support on this occasion?

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