Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not in a position to support the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 for the reasons my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, and myself explained during the Second Stage debate on that Bill last summer. In summary, the Bill as drafted is flawed, lacks balance and does not achieve its stated aim. Moreover, it would have very significant adverse consequences for employers' rights across the economy, including job losses.

In contrast, the draft legislative proposals approved recently by Government for priority drafting are balanced and focused in particular on low-paid and more vulnerable workers. They are in response to a specific commitment in the programme for Government. The proposals address a number of key issues which have been identified as being areas in which current employment rights legislation can be strengthened to benefit the employees without imposing unnecessarily onerous burdens on employers and businesses. These are not comprehended by the Private Member's Bill.

The Government's proposals are the result of extensive consultations, including the public consultation by my Department following the University of Limerick study on zero-hour contracts and low-hour contracts. They also encompass a detailed dialogue process with ICTU and IBEC over a period of several months.

I am referring the draft legislation to the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for the committee to consider and determine if it wishes to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Bill.

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