Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's comments. On the previous occasion on which the House debated this matter, we were concerned with ensuring that the rights of part-time workers would be protected.

In respect of both the Goodbody and the Gorecki reports, part-timer drivers fulfil a very important role in an industry that is heavily peaked at weekends. We were more pro-part-timers than the original version of the Bill. I am glad the Minister of State has accommodated that. I may have been one of the people who objected to the version passed by the Seanad. Part-time work is a feature and part-time workers have their rights. They perform a very valuable role and that role is protected in human rights legislation and European legislation. I will not be moving my amendments and I welcome what the Minister of State has said here this afternoon.