Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This was a very serious report, but it is an independent report. As the Deputy rightly pointed out there will be different views on the matter. The trade unions and NGOs will support the recommendations and the employer and business groups will be against it. Those of us in government and the Department have to strike a balance regarding the employers and the workers. This will take time. We do not want to rush this. We want to ensure that careful consideration is given here.

Some of the people who made submissions want to have meetings with departmental officials. We will consider all that in the context of the study itself. If legislation is necessary, obviously this is something we have to look at seriously. We will, after careful consideration, deal with this in the interests of workers and employees.

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