Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 13: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the potential negative effects the Lisbon Treaty, if passed, could have on Irish workers. [4078/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I reject the inherent negative premise of the question posed by the Deputy. On the contrary, I am firmly convinced that the new EU Treaty will be of overall benefit to Irish workers. Our membership of the European Union has been very beneficial to Ireland from the point of view of Irish workers, as reflected in the strong growth in employment in Ireland in recent years, and the very positive legal framework for employment rights which has contributed to the quality of that employment.

The current corpus of employment rights protection has been driven in large part by EU-wide legislative developments across a broad spectrum of employment protection legislation, providing equal treatment for the most vulnerable workers and attacking discriminatory practices such as discrimination based on gender and marital status. The whole approach to workplace safety has evolved considerably in the last ten to fifteen years, due in large part to rules initiated and formulated at EU level, and enshrined in EU Directives. Of further significance is the availability of EU appellate mechanisms, notably the European Court of Justice, in the development of the principles, and in interpretation, of key EU legal instruments.

The new EU Treaty is a balanced document. It is good for workers because it helps strike the right balance between social protection and economic competitiveness. It will help to underpin the positive developments in employment rights protection and will assist in providing a positive environment for future progress. The Charter of Fundamental Rights is a central component of the new EU Treaty, which was formally ratified by European leaders in Lisbon, last October. The Charter, which is legally binding and enforceable on Member States, sets out a range of rights, freedoms and principles for EU citizens and workers. It sets out the values on which the Union is founded in a clear and comprehensive way. It should be welcomed by all concerned who profess to care about the rights and concerns of workers.