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

If the Deputy presses the amendment, I will have no choice but to object to it because the legislation will apply to everyone, be it a company that employs 10,000 people or one that employs ten people. I would object to the amendment on the basis that, if a large number of people came forward in a small organisation that did not have dedicated staff to perform the look-backs, only the boss, four weeks would be too onerous a period. We need to give such people the time to adhere to the law. We do not want to create a law to which people cannot adhere, be it because of seasonality or because 21 employees rush to be put on a certain band of hours once we pass this law. We must understand the burden on certain employers. That said, I also do not want someone being left for two months just to annoy him or her. I am trying to strike a balance. I cannot say "Yes" to what the Deputy is asking, but I want to try to help him do what he believes needs to happen.