Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Uber case in the UK. We have been closely monitoring it. An appeal will be lodged, therefore, I would prefer not to comment on it.

Considerable time and effort went into the preparation of this legislation. We also engaged in consultation. We received 48 submissions following the completion of the University of Limerick study, which were very useful. We engaged in consultation with IBEC and the unions over a lengthy period. The Deputy can appreciate the degree of bargaining that took place with people raising their own cases during those discussions, which took place from September last year to March of this year.

The key issue is that we have good legislation. The four areas that will be covered in the legislation are the four the Deputy outlined. They include that an employee would be entitled to information at the start of his or her job, to know exactly who he or she is working for, the name and address of the employer, the hours he or she will work and how much he or she will be paid. There are 15 items listed but the employer does not have to provide those details until two months after the employment has commenced. It will not be onerous on an employer to provide information on the main areas that will be covered. An employee is entitled to know that information. We hope that the legislation we will put in place will be balanced. It will help low-paid workers, and I know the Deputy represents low-paid workers. There are three other areas and I might cover those when I reply to the Deputy later.

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