Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his proposals for a major change or reform of the posted workers directive. [29852/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Directive 2014/67/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services was formally adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on 13 May 2014 after lengthy and difficult negotiations. The Directive aims to provide for better and more uniform application and enforcement in practice of the original Posting Directive (No. 96/71/EC), including measures to provide greater transparency and certainty in the administrative requirements and control measures applicable in individual Member States.

I welcome the adoption of the Directive. It strikes a good balance between, on the one hand, ensuring the free movement of workers within the EU and protecting those workers’ rights and on the other, protecting the freedom of business to provide services and to access opportunities anywhere in the Internal Market. The Directive will ensure that the high standards that operate in the Irish labour market are respected by those seeking to post workers to Ireland. I am also confident that the Directive will not only protect Irish companies from unfair competition on the domestic market from foreign service providers but also give greater certainty and clarity to Irish service companies seeking to do business in other Member States.

The Directive has a transposition date of 18 June 2016. A decision on the manner of transposition of the Directive has not yet been taken. My Department will engage in a public consultation on the transposition of the Directive later this year.