Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Senators Coghlan, White and I have proposed a number of amendments. I feel strongly about this amendment because it seeks to define more precisely who exactly is an employee under this legislation. Many companies rely from time to time on temporary staff supplied to them by employment agencies. Over the years, particularly coming up to Christmas or at similar times, my company would get people to come in and work for a short period. It is now an established principle of employment law that these temporary workers are regarded as the employees of the employment agency and not of the company that makes use of their temporary services. This principle should be followed in the Bill and it is for that reason I propose this amendment under which temporary employees will enjoy their rights of information and consultation with their actual employer, the agency, and not the company for which they happen to be working on a temporary basis. The amendment is understandable and logical and I do not foresee any difficulty with it. It does not suggest these temporary employees are not entitled to consultation, but it should be with their employer, the agency, and not the company that has taken them on for a temporary period.