Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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31. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is prepared to support the proposals for the seafarers directive, proposed by Liadh Ní Riada MEP, which aims to provide the same rights to seafarers as those enjoyed by land based workers. [12814/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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A General Approach was adopted by the EPSCO Council on 11th December 2014 on the proposal for a Directive which aims to provide for a more uniform protection of seafarers' labour rights, including the right to information and consultation, and affording seafarers the same rights as those enjoyed by workers on shore.

The compromise position agreed by the EPSCO Council reflects the outcome of work undertaken by recent Council Presidencies that has been directed to enhancing the rights of workers in the seafaring professions under EU labour law. Ireland fully supports the proposals agreed at Council which aim to ensure that the optional exclusion of seafarers from key employment and social rights is removed and to ensure a level playing field in the maritime sector.

On 1st April 2015, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted a draft legislative resolution and voted in favour of entering into negotiations with the Council with a view to reaching an agreement on the draft Directive. I understand the Committee took account of the Opinion of the Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on which Ms. Liadh Ní Riada, MEP, acted as Rapporteur.

I understand further that the trilogue negotiations on the draft Directive, which commenced recently between the European Parliament, the Presidency and the European Commission, reached a provisional agreement last week. I look forward to an early and satisfactory conclusion to these negotiations.