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

The purpose of these amendments Nos. 18, 19 and 21 seems to be to abolish if-and-when contracts of employment altogether. It is important to state, because maybe nobody else will, that flexible working arrangements are not bad when they suit those who are involved. In certain sectors, the arrangements can help satisfy a peak demand and fill staffing gaps on a short-term basis. Such arrangements suit some employees. If we were to pass any or all of these amendments, it would exclude those workers who find these arrangements suitable to their own circumstances as they would not be able to use them anymore. I refer, for example, to students working during the summer holidays, individuals who need to work around their responsibilities to care for their children or parents, and the semi-retired who wish to make themselves to work on a flexible basis. If we were to abolish all if-and-when contracts completely, it would mean that one would not be able to use such arrangements to cover annual leave, holiday leave, sick leave or some of the stuff that workers want to do.

I understand what the Deputy is trying to do but there are some who want to have the flexibility to be able to work as they are working. If we deploy these amendments, they would not be able to do so. The Deputy is trying to ensure that nobody can take advantage of somebody, but what we need to try to find is the balance where those who want to work in a flexible situation that suits them can do so while ensuring that no employer can act unscrupulously to make a person work in an inflexible or unstable environment. The rest of the provisions in the Bill, while not perfect, go a long way to ensuring, particularly when we get to talk about the amendments on the banded hours, that those who want stability and consistency will get it, but I would be afraid that those who genuinely want to work a couple of hours here or there at Christmas or Easter will not be able to do so in the future if we pass these amendments.