Ms Wendy Gray:

This Bill is providing for the framework to have an application heard, for the employer to consider it properly and for a reasonable response to be given regarding why the request should not be granted. In the cases of most employers, we would be relying on this type of discussion being had before the legislation is enacted anyway. If employers have experience over the past two years of the workers applying having carried out their work, the Tánaiste has said many times that his expectation would be that employers would continue with that arrangement. Having seen the evidence of the work being carried out properly over the past two years and there having been no difference in productivity, why not continue with the arrangement?