Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for the detail he has provided on the amendments made in the other House. I agree with him that they represent a substantial improvement on the Bill as initiated, which is to be welcomed. He highlighted the professions of nursing and teaching. In many professions there was excessive abuse of the fixed-term contract system. I welcome the Bill, particularly for the job security it now provides in its enhanced form and I am glad it provides the flexibility employers need.