Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Bill the Deputy is talking about went through extensive scrutiny by a committee last year. The Bill does not focus on low paid vulnerable workers because it requires that every worker in every sector of the economy be given additional hours on request unless the employer can prove there are financial difficulties. That goes no way to addressing the current situation which I am absolutely well aware of. What we are going to do in this Bill, which will be a well thought out and considered one after we come back to this or the jobs committee to do pre-legislative scrutiny on it, will be to ensure that banded hour contracts are enshrined on the basis of what is currently the practice. We can debate whether it should be six months, 12 months or 18 months when we come back and I will take on board the will of the House. We will make sure there are no zero-hour contracts except for casual work so as not to preclude our young people from being able to get work. The aim of the Bill is to enshrine in legislation employment rights for people who are in precarious situations or casualised work situations. It is the aim of this Government. I thought it was the aim of the Opposition but obviously I am very much mistaken in that.