Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To take up the Deputy's point, there is no doubt that if the Minister can secure a sectoral agreement it will have the force of law. Under law, if such an agreement can be put together it will be enforceable. That would be the ideal outcome. The Minister is working to secure such an agreement. She has also indicated that she is writing to companies, including that which the Deputy mentioned, in which practices which are not in accord with a proper approach to this issue may be in place. It is to be hoped that by alerting companies to their obligations and securing an agreement which can become a sectoral norm which would be enforceable, we can deal with this issue. That would be the ideal outcome, rather than specifying in primary legislation individual practices which evolve and change. An instrument that has the involvement of all sides in industry and which is capable of being kept up to date as circumstances change is required. That is the goal the Minister seeks to achieve.

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