Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 6, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:

"(2) For the purposes of calculating workforce thresholds, all undertakings that are part of a group shall be regarded as a single undertaking.".

This amendment is to insert a new subsection (2) whereby for the purposes of calculating workforce thresholds, all undertakings that are part of a group should be regarded as a single undertaking. We had a discussion on this matter on Committee Stage and I do not want to trample over the same ground but I would like clarity from the Minister of State and a reassurance that there will not be a loophole to allow the breaking up of a workforce into groups that would avoid the application of the Bill. If we set a threshold, we must ensure that threshold is applied in a logical way to include all people who are part of a group. We cannot have a situation where people in a particular line are a different undertaking to those in another and therefore are not subject to the legislation. The amendment is to ensure that the intent of the Minister of State, the House and the directive is fully enforced in every undertaking and that the numbers are real and not contrived to be below the threshold by some odd break-up or grouping of workers.

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