Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I imagine that an employee in the category mentioned by Senators White and Coghlan is likely to be recruited on what is termed a "contract for service", in which case responsibility would lie with the agency. If the amendment before the House is accepted, it will preclude all employees placed by an agency with a company from getting information from that company. People may be placed with a company for a period of two years or considerably longer in some instances. It would be entirely wrong to exclude such people from the right to information and consultation that will be given under this Bill to their fellow employees who are working for the same company. I am not prepared to exclude them in that way. If people are operating under a contract of service, they are included in this Bill under the main employer. If the definition of "contract for service" applies to them, as it does to the employees mentioned by Senator Coghlan who are employed for a week or two, I am perfectly satisfied that the agency is responsible. I am not prepared to treat differently people who have been working for a company for a long time, and who meet the terms of a contract of service, just because they happen to be agency workers.