Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to raise two matters. The first relates to the promised legislation on agency workers and refers to the Bill published by the Labour Party on this matter. The British Government has reached agreement with the British Trades Union Congress and with the Confederation of British Industry on a regime governing agency workers in the United Kingdom. The terms of this agreement appear to be close to the provisions contained in the Labour Party Bill placed before this House.

As a result of this agreement, the British Government is withdrawing its objection to the proposed European Union directive on temporary agency workers. This means only Ireland and Hungary continue to oppose the introduction of this directive at European Union level, which will provide protection for temporary agency workers. I understand a meeting of the employment Council will take place on 9 June. Given the agreement reached by the British Government and the withdrawal of its objection, will the Irish Government withdraw its objection to the directive so that it can proceed? It is an important directive which will provide protection and rights to temporary agency workers.

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