Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

This is an important debate. I recognise and am supportive of the need for flexibility in the workplace and the need to ensure employers are free to bring in workers on the basis of need, whether it be to meet a seasonal demand or satisfy customer demand. Nobody doubts the need for that flexibility in the marketplace. However, some agency workers are being exploited, of that there is no doubt. We hear much anecdotal evidence of that. I read recently in the media of the position of workers in Irish Ferries, although that is not directly related to employment in this country. The position of the Gama workers was another example of such exploitation. I accept what the Minister said regarding the National Employment Rights Authority and I have spoken to those in the authority. If employees have concerns and issues need to be brought to the authority's attention, that should be done. When the authority expands its inspectorate to the promised 90, hopefully, it will be more effective.

When I began work, agency or contract workers were better paid than permanent workers because they took a risk. They did not have holiday leave built into their pay nor did they have security of employment. In the case of some agency workers, the position has reversed. I agree with what Deputy Varadkar said about the many nurses who have left the HSE because they can get better terms and conditions through the agencies. Other health professionals have also left the public health system. In the construction industry many architects, engineers and quantity surveyors have also moved to agency work. It is those with low skills, the unskilled and primarily migrant workers who are being exploited; they are being offered accommodation by employment agencies. They are not fully aware of their rights, perhaps because they have moved to another country and have a difficulty with the language. That is the area on which we need to concentrate.

As to the number of people concerned, I heard many figures mentioned tonight and I read in SIPTU's documentation that probably 30,000 workers are employed in the Republic of Ireland through 520 employment agencies. I am not saying all those agencies are exploiting workers but it is an area on which we need to concentrate and we need to introduce legislation to regulate employment agencies. There has been a proliferation of such agencies recently and coming from behind in terms of the need to regulate is a dangerous position. We need to be more proactive in that regard.

I look forward to the introduction of Government's legislation in this area and to another debate on this matter when hopefully I will have more time to contribute. When one reads the background to position of workers in Irish Ferries, who allegedly are paid €4 an hour, confined to the ship at all times and employed by an agency that is registered in Cyprus, no one can condone those conditions. We have a minimum wage and legislation in place to protect workers' rights but not everybody is protected by it. The emphasis in the approach should be on the regulation of agencies and the work time and contract time for which employees can be engaged. Many issues were raised by Members and I join my colleagues in supporting the motion. It is timely, important and there is much concern about this issue. I hope the Government will move to introduce the necessary legislation in this area.

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