Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Legislation is promised in this area and will be introduced as soon as possible. Given the Dáil schedule, it is likely to be after the summer recess. Government policy is to retain the joint labour committee, JLC, system while reforming it as has been recommended. The enforcement of the JLCs, which protect vulnerable workers, will continue.

It is also important to point out many of the misunderstandings about this. In the case of proposals relating to Sunday working, for example, people are already protected and Sunday working is recognised for all workers. Any change will continue that. That is the current position.

It is important to point out that where reforms such as this have been undertaken elsewhere there has been a significant employment bonus. That happened in the UK. Existing workers are protected by their existing contracts. This legislation was flagged in the programme for Government. It is part of a suite of measures that restores the minimum wage and reforms but retains the JLC system. It is the Government's intention to achieve a balanced solution to this problem that will promote employment for many thousands of young and lower skilled people who, as the Taoiseach said yesterday, are locked out of the jobs market.

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