David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

-----and those who represent business interests might not know this - have been exploited in this State and across the European Union. That is why this directive was brought in.

We need to ensure there is equity for workers in this country. I do not believe in a modern republic there can be a situation where one worker who is doing exactly the same work as somebody else is treated differently simply because he or she is an agency worker. Some of the profits on the back of their labour goes to the agency company, of which they are part. I do not believe that is the best way in which we should create employment in this country.

I accept what the Government is trying to do here. I have some reservations because there are many exceptions, our amendments on which, unfortunately, have been ruled out of order, but we can address them on the sections. However, I reiterate that if Senators make the claim that this will amount to massive jobs losses, let them spell out how there will be such massive job losses. Let them explain why employers would let workers go. That would say more about the employers than about anything that we are doing here today.