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

I want to briefly respond to Deputy Smith to say that the example was used in the ruling out of these amendments was not my example. I did not use it. It is the Ceann Comhairle's example. I have no problem being charged with explanations when they are mine but it was not mine and I would not have used it.

I refer to Deputy Penrose's comments. It is not in line with the report from the University of Limerick. The report told us that we do not have a prevalence of use of zero-hour contracts in the country. Notwithstanding that these amendments cannot be passed, I am proposing to amend section 18 of the Organisation of Working Time Act to try to get us to a situation where nobody is brought in, told on a Tuesday that he or she has work, sent home again and told on a Friday that he or she has work. We want to ensure people have a consistency within the bands of hours and the contracted agreement between the two parties and the standard terms and conditions of that contract. That will be reflected in other sections of the Bill.