Ms Patricia King:

We do not even have to look at other countries, although doing so is usually an interesting and fulfilling exercise. We only have to look at our own legislation. The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 and the contract Act contain objective grounds. We do not have to rob anybody else's ideas. We already have employment legislation that includes such provisions. Employers are therefore already obliged to show that certain decisions were based on objective grounds. At the moment, decisions under this legislation are completely subjective and there is no right to appeal a decision on the basis of the grounds used. With regard to the Deputy's question on targets, she is probably more positively disposed to this legislation than I am because I do not believe any targets would be met. The question would not even arise because no one would use the legislation. Why would they? It is nonsense. It is an awful pity it is nonsense and there was no consultation with us where both employers and trade unions representatives could have-----