David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is probably the best articulation of the Bill I have heard so far so I thank the Senator for it. It is exactly what the Bill intends to do. There are all sorts of arguments that were introduced to this debate that had nothing to do with what the Bill seeks to do. The Senator may have heard me making the point earlier that there are issues around where workers can and should be able to demand extra hours. The Bill does not deal with that. There are issues around zero-hour contracts but the Bill does not deal with it. There are issues relating to precarious work in general and the growth of the sector. The committee dealt with it before and I drew up a report on behalf of this committee.

The Senator is right in saying that this is all the Bill seeks to do. If people feel the Bill does something else, it should be pointed out to us. If they feel there are flaws in the Bill, they should be pointed out to us. We are very clear. All we want the Bill to do is deal with the issue in circumstances where a person works 30 or 40 hours per week for six months. We suggest this length of time, as does the University of Limerick, although some say it should be a longer period. Whatever period is agreed, the average hours can be worked out and that is what the contract should reflect. The Bill does not seek to do any more and if people feel it does or that there are unintended consequences arising from any element therein, they should be pointed out in the text of the Bill. We will work with Members to strengthen the Bill.