Alex White (Labour)

The Minister of State's second reason and explanation is that flexibility is required. He stated that the Irish Government is concerned that these proposals to give proper basic rights to agency workers might compromise the flexibility that is required in a market economy. We are now getting to the real meat. He gives a reason that is much closer to the truth of what is going on. The foreign direct investment sector in particular is concerned about any possible measure which might require enterprises to offer permanent employment to temporary agency workers after a specific period of employment.