John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 8, before section 13, to insert the following new section:

13.—An Employment Regulation Order which is in being at the time of the passing of this Act shall expire within six months of its passing, or upon the making of a new Order in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Act as amended, whichever be the earlier.".

This amendment concerns employment regulation orders and proposes a mechanism whereby orders would be renewed only by positive action rather than as happens at present where some EROs may be in place for a number of years. The amendment proposes a definitive time period within which an ERO would have to be renewed.

On Second Stage the Minister of State agreed with Opposition spokespersons on the need for an inability to pay clause and indicated that an amendment would be tabled to include one. Four or five weeks have passed since Second Stage and I thought the amendment would have been tabled on Committee Stage but it will probably be when the Bill is taken in the other House. Perhaps the Minister of State might indicate his position on the matter, as well as on this amendment on the need for a mechanism for the renewal of employment regulation orders.