Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important to recognise the difference the Bill has already made because, as Deputy David Cullinane pointed out, when it was introduced in the Dáil, there was no acceptance across the board that there was a problem. Following the hearings we have held, there is now cross-party acceptance that there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. That in itself is a significant achievement.

What frustrates me is that looking at the Deputy's presentation, it is clear that the Bill is workable and, most importantly, can be effective. I stress the word "effective". I noted that the representatives of the University of Limerick had a particular concern about the continued use of the term "casual work" in the heads of the Government's Bill and how it could even be defined. I know that the heads of the Government's Bill have only just come out, but does Deputy David Cullinane have views on the continued use of the term "casual work" in the Government's Bill? I certainly have a concern that, while we might be doing away with or restricting the use of if-and-when contracts, there will be a new category of contract that will still enable employers to employ people "casually", which would mean that employees would not be protected by the legislation we badly need.