Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2008
31 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature of the agreement made at the Council of Ministers meeting on 9 June 2008 regarding the Temporary Agency Workers Directive; the way it is planned to implement the Directive here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23921/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinisters of twenty-seven EU Member States reached political agreement at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 9/10 June 2008, on the longstanding issues of the Temporary Agency Work and the Working Time Directives. The Council Common Position on both these Directives will now be submitted to the European Parliament, as foreseen by the co-decision procedure.
Under the agreement reached at Council, the basic working and employment conditions of temporary agency workers shall be, for the duration of their assignment at a user undertaking, at least those that would apply if they had been recruited directly by that undertaking to do the same job. The agreement also provides the possibility to establish arrangements concerning the basic pay and working conditions which derogate from this principle of equal treatment by way of collective agreements as comprehended under the provisions of Article 5.3 and through agreements concluded by the social partners, at the national level, as comprehended under the provisions of Article 5.4 of the proposed Directive. Other aspects of the Common Position agreed by EU Ministers include the review of prohibitions and restrictions on temporary agency work as envisaged under the provisions of Article 4 of the proposed Directive. Under the terms of the agreement reached by EU Ministers, there is a three year period proposed in which Member States will be required to transpose the Directive, following adoption, into national legislation.
It is the intention of Government to discuss with the Social Partners the arrangements most appropriate to Irish circumstances, having regard to the choices of agency workers, the framework provided for in the Directive and the need for flexibility at different levels. An agreement in this area is a matter for the Social Partners but the State will, of course, have a role not least with regard to broad public policy on maintaining flexible employment opportunities and the rights of those employed.
