Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The issue of harmonising employment standards and laws, for example, could involve the reduction of standards on one side of the Border. The social partnership model we have devised over the past 22 years has seen advances in worker and employment legislation. It has been good for us but we must also keep an eye on competitiveness issues. It has not been part of the UK agenda for some time. One issue we have to address, apart from the fluctuation in exchange rates, is the discrepancy in entitlements, benefits, redundancy payments and so forth which we have built up. We are proud to have built them up while others have a different view because of different governmental policies.

I understand the Deputy's sentiment. We need to find a forum to deal with competitiveness issues and avoid distortions in trade. However, it is almost axiomatic that borders are economically disruptive because different rules and regulations apply in the different jurisdictions. I will reflect on what the Deputy said and ask the relevant Department and Minister to advance the issue.

See this speech in context