Workers' rights in EU key issue for Irish voters
Issued : Monday 17 November, 2008
Statement by Joe Costello TD
Spokesperson on Europe and Human Rights
The Irish Times (TNS MRBI) poll showing a slight majority of 52.5% in favour of the Lisbon Treaty at present is encouraging but does not suggest any fundamental rethink by the Irish electorate.
With 18% of voters undecided clearly the issue is very much in the balance.
The fact that the issue of workers' rights was not included as one of the questions put to the interviewees in the poll was a serious omission.
Concerns about a Commissioner, neutrality, abortion and taxation were indeed matters that affected a significant number of voters. But the issue that most exercised the minds of no voters was the issue of protection for workers. 40% of those who voted 'no' said that concern about workers' rights was a major factor in the way they voted.
At the time of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum the Labour Party, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the European Trade Union Confederation argued that a social progress clause should be agreed to the effect that the Posting of Workers' Directive would be amended to eliminate the difficulties that had arisen in a number of Member States following its transposition into domestic law and which had caused alarm within the Trade Union movement across the EU. There still exists concern among workers that workers' rights have been undermined in recent years within the EU.
It is disappointing that this crucial issue was not put to the interviewees in the recent poll by the Irish Times/MRBI. The response would have been invaluable.
Ironically, the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Lisbon Treaty would have been an immense help in ensuring that workers' rights were protected for the future.
In the context of Ireland's future involvement in the EU the Labour Party believes that the issue of workers' rights must be clarified urgently.