Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the first matter, the parliamentary committee outlined various recommendations, some of which must be addressed with member state colleagues at European Council level and others which must be dealt with at national level. In the context of employment rights legislation and so on, it should be pointed out that we have a good record on employment rights. Employment rights legislation which protects migrants workers has been bolstered. For example, on the posted workers issue, these people now have the same rights as Irish workers under Irish law. Other issues are being discussed in the social partnership process. We have a voluntary industrial relations system.

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