Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The report may state zero-hour contracts are not extensive, but tens of thousands of people are affected by zero-hour contracts alone, apart altogether from the if-and-when contracts and the other low-hour contracts the Minister of State mentioned. These people have enormous difficulty organising child care, credit, bank loans and mortgages and accessing benefits, including FIS. In addition they have difficulty organising rent and paying for groceries or school uniforms when they do not know what their hours or salary will be the following year.

UL reported back to the Department more than six months ago. Can the Minister of State give the House a more definitive timeframe as to when he will bring forward legislation or if he intends to introduce legislation at all?

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