Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

While the Deputy is right about the majority of employers, considerable evidence suggests that a small group of employers, including some who employ foreign workers for domestic duties, have little regard for the law across a range of areas, including the minimum wage and health and safety issues. Therefore I am not disposed to accept the amendment. The Deputy is also right that large groups have not complied with elements of the 1989 Act. In recent years we have seen considerable evidence that more of them are at least preparing a risk assessment, which is the minimum required for anybody in a position of engaging an employee to do any kind of work. In view of our experience and the complaints we have received, excluding the domestic workplace from basic health and safety requirements would send a very negative signal.

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