Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

This approach is standard in other Bills such as the transfer of undertakings legislation and, therefore, we are not innovating. If there is a clear obligation on the hirer, he will be responsible. The case should be pursued against the hirer and it is the responsibility of the hirer to honour his obligations under the legislation as they relate to vacancy notices and workplace facilities. If the case relates to basic pay and conditions, the employer is responsible but to make them jointly and severally liable is to pretend they are jointly responsible whereas the legislation has separated their responsibilities and established the line of responsibility clearly and a redress mechanism that makes it simpler for the worker to pursue a case against one or the other. If the worker wins the case and the employer has a subsequent gripe, he must pursue it himself. That is better and cleaner.

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