Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief as I think it has all been said. I thank everyone for their contributions today and thank the Minister of State for remaining here for the whole debate. It was great to hear such a wide range of speakers. As Deputy Niall Collins said earlier, we are sometimes accused of being the do-nothing Dáil. However, a body of work is being done downstairs in the committee rooms day on day, which should be acknowledged inside and outside the House.

There is no doubt that there are significant issues. Like every other Deputy and Senator, I see them in my offices and clinics on a weekly basis. It is great that we are discussing it here today. The reason Deputy Cullinane brought the Bill forward, and he was very well intentioned, is that the issue is there and it is real. We heard from both sides of the debate in our committee, including opposing views and strong views. I will quote a passage from the scrutiny report to put it on the record of the House:

The committee heard of the difficulties and hardship experienced by workers on variable, low-hour contracts and the particular problems for workers whose contract does not reflect the number of hours they work.

A major issue raised was the income uncertainty it creates. Employees have difficulty planning their finances and life decisions (such as starting a family) as they have no guarantee of their income from week to week.

It is also difficult for employees to plan their time in advance as there is no certainty surrounding which days and hours they will be required to work. This makes it particularly difficult to plan childcare, family life and social activities.

Many employees have experienced difficulty obtaining credit, as banks will only look at the minimum number of hours in the person’s contract, despite the actual working hours vastly exceeding what is stated in the contract. This causes difficulty for workers seeking to purchase a home, car, etc. A contract that reflects the hours worked would provide [immediate] certainty for employees and aid in obtaining credit.

I know this document upside-down and inside-out. I feel I have lived it for quite a number of months. There is one defining line in it which sums up the whole document: "The committee is unanimously of the opinion that employees are entitled to a contract reflective of the hours they work over a defined period." If we take nothing else away from today's debate, we should take cognisance of this. People should not have to wait any longer. They need the legislation. We need the legislation for the employees who are not being treated fairly. I urge the Minister of State, if he cannot accept the Bill or the recommendations of the committee, to bring forward his own legislation as a matter of priority. There is no doubt that this matter and the people affected cannot wait any longer.

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