Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware of numerous examples of businesses which form one company to engage in one activity and another company to engage in a second activity. The use of separate companies enables them to circumvent employment law and constructively dismiss members of staff. I have no doubt this practice will take place in this context if it results in a competitive advantage for the company in question. As such, it will be logical for some of the businesses in question to act in this fashion. If it is our intention to ensure fair trading conditions between companies, surely the proposed amendment would not be an imposition on firms with an annual turnover of €12 million, €15 million or €30 million.