Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

Would the Minister of State not agree that the moratorium is having an impact? We were worn out by the talk of the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, on the 90 inspectors but we still have not reached that target due to the moratorium.

Does the Minister of State agree that NERA should solely focus on significant breaches of compliance and that it should assist employers to remedy relatively minor issues? Where an employer and an employee have reached a mutual and fair understanding regarding employment issues, due cognizance should be afforded to such agreements by inspectors. Too often, however, a sledge-hammer is used to crack a nut. While all of us would ascribe to the idea that employment legislation exists to protect employees, if a fair understanding is reached between employer and employees there is little point in having NERA issue threats of closure or demands for back pay. Compromises may have been reached in regard to days off in order to facilitate part-time workers in particular. I hope NERA and other agencies take cognizance of our new economic circumstances.

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