David Norris (Independent)

It may mean the Government will do something pretty weak. I have come across promises of this nature on many occasions. The Minister of State's comment that "the Government's position on the draft EU directive has been that while we support the principle of equal treatment, the most recent proposals did not have the necessary degree of balance" is what the leader of the Minister of State's party would describe in his inimitable way in the other House as "waffle". The Government side has recognised, at least, that agency people have problems getting regular jobs. I shall return to this important aspect of the debate in a minute.

I am concerned that we have not solved the problems which led to the Irish Ferries dispute. While I was involved in the styling of the Irish Ferries' Ulysses, I refused to be involved in the styling of its new ship, Oscar Wilde, because of my concerns about the way that company treats its workers. Trade unions raised considerable questions about the apparent proposal by Irish Ferries to pay less than half the minimum wage. The company thought it would be able to get away with it by virtue of some kind of offshore arrangement until a storm was raised. It may not be happening now.

Questions remain about the manner in which 500 operatives were made redundant and had their jobs filled by temporary agency workers. There was a suggestion that the employees were working 12-hour shifts for a two-month period. The company was almost boasting about the fact that the workers did not come ashore to Ireland but instead were put on a sister ship during their time off. That is very close to slavery in my opinion. It is an appalling situation in which to be. I do not know exactly what the situation was although I am not sure anyone does. There are serious questions, however. A spokesperson for the company has said that complaints about working conditions should be directed to a Cyprus-based company, Dobson Fleet Management, which employs the crew. I find it quite astonishing that the company claims it is not responsible and refers questions to an English-sounding company that is based in Cyprus.

It is regrettable that Ireland, in nasty collaboration with the United Kingdom and Hungary, is holding up the draft workers directive by reserving its position on it. The Government can massage its position any way it wants but there does not seem to be any doubt about what I have said. I note that Senator Callely is shaking his head. I do not know what the relevant officials are doing behind closed doors, in cigar smoke filled rooms if such behaviour is still allowed under the smoking regulations. I understand that 24 of the 27 EU member states, including Romania and Slovakia, have legislated to provide for equal treatment of temporary agency workers. The three countries which have not done so are Ireland, the United Kingdom and Hungary. One of the reasons we have not done so is that we have a massive inflow of immigrants.