Ms Cathy Maguire:

If, following on from all of the research done, the committee identifies a problem, we would welcome any protection for vulnerable employees. As people working on the ground, we will not necessarily be aware of a problem until there is a solution because clients first bring their problem to a solicitor, and if there is no solution to their problem, in all likelihood they do not come to us. I have been involved in cases relating to section 17 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, although not many. It is not a very transparent provision, which may be the reason there have not been many cases. It is difficult to say if the reason there are few cases is because there is no problem or because the legislation is slightly opaque. We cannot answer that question for the committee. However, if the committee identifies that there is a problem, we would welcome a solution to it.