Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I thank all Senators for their contributions. In starting with the last contribution first, while Senator Jim Walsh was highly critical of the manner in which social partnership was dealt with in the directive, I simply was pointing out to him that the negotiations in this regard took place in 2008. If terms were improperly used, I must deal with the directive as presented, which is an important point. The Senator is probably trying to use the legislation to establish new rights for agency workers, rather than applying basic conditions to ensure the provision of basic rights. This measure is about protecting from exploitation persons in temporary agency positions and making sure they receive the basic entitlements that prevail elsewhere. It does not pertain to suggesting, for example, that sick pay or pension schemes which essentially form part of longer term working conditions be applied to temporary agency workers.