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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

114 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is intended to implement the proposed EU directive on agency workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20373/02]

Discussions on a proposal for a directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers between the social partners at European level, under the provisions of the social protocol, began in June 2000. Agreement could not be reached after 11 months of discussion, however, due to an inability to agree as to how the pay and conditions of agency workers should be established. Employers' representatives wanted them to be determined in comparison to other agency workers, while unions' representatives wanted such comparisons to be made with the permanent employees in the place of work in which the agency worker was placed. The initiative then fell to Anna Diamantopoulou, the Social Affairs and Employment Commissioner, to attempt to move the agenda forward. The European Commission published its formal proposal on 20 March 2002 and provided that after a period of six weeks agency workers could compare themselves with employees in the end-user company.

The draft directive has been the subject of detailed article by article discussions in the relevant Council working group – the Social Affairs Questions Group – since last June. In parallel, the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee has also been examining the proposal under the co-decision process laid down in the Maastricht treaty. I understand that the European Parliament is scheduled to vote on the 140 or so amendments tabled by this committee at its plenary session later this month. In the meantime, the Government will continue to play a positive role in ensuring that a satisfactory outcome is achieved to reflect the concerns of the various interested parties in Ireland.

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