Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach says the trade union movement is happy. In terms of many of his responses over the years, everybody is happy as far as he is concerned — here we are again today. Does the Taoiseach not recognise there is great concern that there is a continual effort to undermine hard fought for and long negotiated workers' rights in this jurisdiction and elsewhere, and that the advent of the European Court of Justice ruling in the Laval case spells real difficulties for the pay and many of the conditions and protections that Irish workers currently enjoy? Does the Taoiseach accept there is a clear onslaught on trade union representation rights, collective bargaining and minimum wages that needs to be faced up to domestically and collectively? It was in regard to the latter that I asked specifically whether the Taoiseach was prepared to have this matter addressed at European Union level, where it is imperative. Will the Taoiseach clarify this point?

We must recognise that much of what I have just described is in keeping with the Lisbon strategy, which puts competitiveness before people — there can be no question or doubt about that. I can in part anticipate the Taoiseach's response in terms of the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty. However, leaving aside his preference for one particular outcome, and mine, what is his position on the call by the European Trade Union Confederation that in the event that the Lisbon treaty falls and a renegotiation must take place, a social progress clause should be negotiated into any new agreement?

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