Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

The biblical admonition that labour deserves its wages is one of the most ethical and moral precepts in existence. Over time, this simple but effective principle has led societies throughout most of the world to develop laws to protect workers' rights. The process began with the abolition of slavery and continued with the introduction of the minimum wage in America by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. Although Ireland introduced the minimum wage at a somewhat later date, I am proud my party was a member of the Government which brought it into being.

The law in this area is extremely important and Ireland has one of the most progressive minimum wage systems in the world. The minimum wage is not subject to the whim of the Oireachtas or the Government of the day. The Minister takes advice in respect of it and regular increases have been forthcoming.

Together with the minimum wage legislation, the other laws governing terms of employment, equality and dismissals are, in the main, progressive and pro worker in nature. Not only does my party have a fantastic track record as regards introducing progressive employment legislation, to be fair, so does the Oireachtas as a whole.

The extensive rights to which I refer apply to agency workers. As representatives and legislators, we will always do our best to apprise these workers of that fact. Exploitation is wrong and must be stopped. I welcome the Minister's commitment to beefing up the inspection system, particularly through the appointment of inspectors with skills in foreign languages.

The social partnership system we have developed is a model of stability and economic progress. In the early days of new Labour in Britain, social partnership would probably have been considered anathema. However, our system is a welcome and progressive one. In Towards 2016, the Government agreed with the social partners to enact key reforms in respect of agency workers. These relate to licensing, a code of practice and the establishment of a monitoring and advisory committee. I look forward to the introduction and eventual enactment of the employment agency regulation Bill.

The Minister outlined to the House and the social partners the Government's position on the proposed EU directive on temporary agency workers. Further work will be done on this matter at forthcoming Council meetings in the near future. It is ironic that Ireland is being blamed for delaying the passage of the directive, with which the Minister has issues. However, in the debate on the Lisbon treaty we are being informed that we have no power in Europe and that everything is being imposed upon us. Ireland has issues with the directive but I hope progress can be made on it in the near future.

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