Fine Gael National Press Office

Thursday, December 1^st 2011

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, has today (Thursday) called for trade unions to stop being reckless and agree a qualifying period to the EU Temporary Agency Workers Directive.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Heydon said: ‘The trade union movement is playing Russian roulette with businesses and jobs in this country by failing to agree a qualifying period before the Directive comes into effect. This is currently one of the biggest issues facing Irish businesses and there is a real lack of clarity on the detail that will have a significant impact on them.

“The EU Temporary Agency Workers Directive gives agency staff the same benefits as directly employed full time staff from their first day of employment, unless a qualifying period can be agreed by the social partners. This directive is due to be transposed into Irish law next Monday, December 5^th. The directive came into law in Britain on October 1^st, where a 12 week qualifying period or derogation was agreed.

“The implementation of this EU directive in its current format will put many agency jobs at risk, as some employers require the flexibility of agency staff for seasonal work. The State is the biggest employer of agency staff, including the health service which uses agency staff as a mechanism for dealing with the moratorium on recruitment of staff. It has been reported that this directive could potentially cost the HSE an additional €33m if implemented in its present form.

Thursday 17^th November 2011

Closure of Army Barracks should help to ensure Defence Force Numbers are Maintained 

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South Martin Heydon has today expressed his hope that the consolidation of Army Barracks confirmed this week will maximize the effectiveness of the Defence Forces and help to ensure that the force can remain at a strength of 9,500.

“The closure of barracks in Cavan, Mullingar, Clonmel and Castlebar is a key step in the ongoing Defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the last number of years” Heydon stated.

The barracks are expected to be closed by 30^th March 2012.  Over 500 personnel in the barracks will be re-deployed to alternative locations, including the Curragh.  “The location of army personnel in many different locations has given rise to difficulties in the provision of essential training, particularly exercises involving large numbers of personnel, as well as increasing costs.  In these difficult times, the closures announced will enhance the flexibility available to the Defence Forces in the use of their resources, both human and financial” stated Heydon.