Madam, - As members of the Labour Party we wish to distance ourselves from comments made by party leader Pat Rabbitte in which he flagged the idea of a "work permits system" for workers within the EU (The Irish Times, January 3rd). This bears no relation to Labour Party policy on migrant labour, current or previous.
We believe there is a clear role for the Labour Party in fighting exploitation and raising employment standards for all workers.
Political pressure for an increase in the number of labour inspectors needs to be stepped up, and a more intensive campaign to defeat the EU services directive should be launched.
Ultimately, the best way to guarantee decent employment standards for workers is through trade union membership. The Labour Party can assist the unions in efforts to organise unionised workers by introducing proposals to improve legislation on trade union recognition and calling for the repeal of those elements of the 1990 Industrial Relations Act which restrict trade union activity.
We believe the concept, introduced by Mr Rabbitte, that workers from other European Union countries would have their freedom of movement between member-states severely curtailed under any work permit regime is disgraceful and flies in the face of what Labour stands for.
We wish to make it clear that the Labour Party leader's commentary is not being made in our name. - Yours, etc,
PAUL DILLON, Milltown, Dublin 12; DERMOT LOONEY, Greenhills, Dublin 12; JANE HORGAN JONES, Clontarf, Dublin 3. ENDA DUFFY, Stillorgan, Co Dublin; CHRIS BOND, Greenhills, Dublin 12; CIARAGH NÍ NÉILL, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford; BRIAN AYLWARD, Newport, Co Tipperary.