Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

What is unique about this directive is that responsibility for concluding an agreement rests with the social partners, rather than with the Government. The two sides need to come together and reach an agreement. It would be better for us to have a waiting period like that in the UK and Northern Ireland. It would allow us to protect employment at a difficult time. I urge the social partners to consider carefully the adverse implications of any failure for each agreement. It would be appropriate if we could conclude an agreement like that in the UK and Northern Ireland. I will have further discussions with the social partners after this debate concludes, in the hope that some agreement can be reached.

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