Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made with regard to the implementation of the Temporary Agency Workers Directive, agreed at the Council of Ministers meeting on 23 May 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44904/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Parliament by way of its legislative Resolution, of 22 October 2008, have approved the Council common position for adopting a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Temporary Agency Work. I welcome the fact that the Parliament, in Plenary, accepted the Council common position without amendment. This matter will now be scheduled for a forthcoming Council of Ministers' meeting which is the final element in the process of the adoption of the Directive which will be published in the Official Journal.

Under the terms of the agreement reached by EU Ministers and approved by Parliament, there will be a three year period in which Member States will be required to transpose the Directive, following its adoption, into national legislation. The Deputy will recall that following the welcome developments in the European Parliament, I invited the Social Partners to discussions with my Department. These discussions will aim at agreeing a framework within which agency workers in Ireland would achieve equal treatment within an agreed timeframe having regard also to the need for flexibility in enterprises. The proposed Review and Transitional Agreement 2008-2009 concluded by the Social Partners contains a commitment to developing such a framework.