David Norris (Independent)

Could the Leader give us an update on the implementation of the European regulation concerning agency workers? I am concerned about this. I believe in fair treatment for all workers but this seems to be a bizarre situation where agency workers immediately get the same treatment as those who have been working for a considerable time. At a time of economic stringency, this is a rather dangerous thing to do. It will have a major impact on, for example, the HSE - requiring an extra €35 million I believe. It could impact further down the scale on small businesses, leading to diminishing employment. The neighbouring island, Britain, managed to get a derogation from this for a period, but we do not appear to have done so, which shows laxity on the part of this and the previous Governments, and a lack of flexibility on the part of the social partners. If we are interested in the well-being of society, we should take a flexible attitude in this in the interest of the entire community and not just one section. I realise this was apparently used as a bargaining tool by some of the unions.

Earlier I referred to looking for an examination of the ethical standards in the Irish media. I continue to urge that this take place in light of the continuing revelations of the Leveson inquiry in Britain which appear to direct attention to the probability that exactly the same practices that were followed by British newspapers were followed by their counterparts here. I am just as concerned about electronic media. I have had a communication from a person who is not a constituent of mine. Comments have been put on a website about her profession - solicitors - which may not be the most popular profession. This kind of thing should not be tolerated and some method of control should be found for it. These comments include:

In India throwing Acid in someone's face is a perfectly acceptable means of fighting crime. Ireland needs a similar method.

... the best way to get my point across is to kidnap and torture crooked Solicitors. I find that to be the best method to deal with these Rats.

In America if a Solicitor/Lawyer stole from a client he or she would be hunted down and killed and then the client would then commit suicide."

I find it astonishing that this kind of stuff appears on the Internet. I wonder if there is some way to control it. While I realise that it would be extremely difficult to do so, this is incitement to commit crimes and it is very dangerous. It is the pursuit of a personal grudge because of a legal dispute upon which I am not in a position to adjudicate. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of it, I do not believe throwing of acid, kidnapping, torture or murder of citizens of Ireland should be advocated by other citizens of Ireland.