EU Services Directive Debate

international | eu | news report Tuesday January 24, 2006 15:37 by Dáil Observer

Independent T.D.s are to call on the Government to reject the proposed EU Services Directive. Concerned that this Directive, which is backed by EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevey, would have serious negative implications for workers' rights and public services, Independent T.Ds, Marian Harkin, James Breen, Paudge Connolly, Jerry Cowley, Tony Gregory, Seamus Healy, Joe Higgins, Finian McGrath, Paddy McHugh and Catherine Murphy have initiated a Dáil debate on this issue on Wednesday 25th January. The text of their motion is as follows:

1. "That Dáil Éireann,

notes:

that services within the European Union account for 56% of G.D.P. and 70% of employment and are therefore crucial to growth and employment levels;

the grave concern among citizens and trade union organisations within the European Union about the implications of the Directive on Services in the Internal market issued on behalf of the European Commission on 13th January, 2004 by Commissioner Bolkestein;

the analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation stating that the Directive would allow companies registered in E.U. countries with minimal labour standards to operate their standards throughout the E.U. – the so called ‘country of origin’ principle;

the well founded fears that the Services Directive would be used by some employers to undermine established rates of pay, safe and reasonable working conditions negotiated by workers through their trade unions, and also undermine the ability of other employers to compete in the future;

that, if implemented, the Services Directive could legitimise exploitation such as that of the migrant Turkish workers by the multinational company, Gama, exposed during 2005, and the recent revelations concerning mushroom pickers in Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan;

the attempt by Irish Ferries to replace permanent crews on trade union negotiated rates of pay and conditions with low waged Eastern European labour;
and further notes:

the need to promote social solidarity as a core value between E.U. citizens;

the need to prevent any undermining of employment standards and health and safety standards in the services industry and to prevent the practise of social dumping;

the desirability of developing a social model which has the trust and confidence of E.U. citizens and which promotes high quality public services, consumer protection and democratic accountability and workers rights;

deplores the fact that the Government has supported the proposed Services Directive which would have damaging economic and social implications and, aware that the President of the European Commission, Mr. Barosso, has stated in the context of this Directive that the concerns of the different sectors must be taken on board and also that the Austrian Economic Minister Martin Bartenstein said in his statement that a precondition for the success of the Services Directive would be that it convincingly excludes wage and social dumping, calls on the Government to state that in the context of the next partnership negotiations that it will reject the proposed Services Directive and, in particular, the ‘country of origin’ principle."