Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin will be opposing amendment No. 4. On amendment No. 7, the directive and legislation were based on ensuring equality of pay and conditions between temporary agency workers and permanent employees. They are intended to safeguard employment and terms and conditions for both sets of employees. The Government has introduced a loophole that will exclude so-called permanent agency workers from the provisions of the Bill. Sinn Féin is concerned that acceptance of this amendment will result in the creation of the further loophole of two workers doing the same job being on different contracts with different terms and conditions. What will prevent an employer employing an agency worker on lesser terms and conditions? I urge the Minister to reconsider inserting the words "existing contracts of employment" to ensure that these potential loopholes are closed.

We will be supporting amendments Nos. 11 and 14.

See this speech in context