David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are examples in other pieces of legislation where there are opt-outs for companies which employ fewer than five people. That is something this committee could consider. One is talking about whether this puts any additional burden on businesses or will cause any difficulties for them. I accept the Deputy's line of questioning because I acknowledge that any legislation that passes could have an impact on business. We must be conscious of the impact it has on them as employers and the ability of the companies to be sustainable. In reality, it does not place any additional financial burden on any company, because they are already giving the workers the hours that they do. If we were dealing with the issue of banning zero hour contracts and the broader issues of precarious work, I could see then how the impact on businesses would be much greater. In a situation where the same employers are already giving the workers the hours they are doing anyway, it could be 30 or 40 hours, and all they are doing is giving them a contract reflecting that, that does not put any extra burden on them. That is the point I am making. I cannot stress enough the simplicity of what this does, and the fact that it does not really put any huge burden on employers.

As I said, there are potential opt-outs that have been used in other Bills that the committee could look at. Is it fair that somebody who is employed by an employer who employs fewer than five people could end up forever and a day stuck on these low hour contracts? That is a matter on which members should form their own opinions.