David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 45:

In page 27, line 31, to delete “42 days” and substitute “28 days”.

All of the amendments seek to do the same thing, so there is no problem with them being grouped. We are seeking to reduce the time an employer has to appeal a compliance notice from six weeks to four weeks. We previously sought two weeks when the Bill was before the Dáil on Committee Stage, but this was deemed too short a period for an employer to prepare the necessary documentation and information. The Minister says it should be six weeks. However, I note that the Government is giving the survivors of symphysiotomy just 20 working days from the commencement date of the redress scheme to apply for redress. If one applies for social welfare and one's claim for benefit is turned down, one has 28 days to appeal. The standard for the vast majority of citizens appears to be 28 days. However, when it comes to employers, who in these cases are unscrupulous employers who have already been found guilty of a breach of employment law, they are given six weeks. We do not understand the logic of that.

The reason for tabling the amendment is that obviously an appeal would hold up whatever compensation would be due to an employee. If the Minister cannot accept a two week period, he should at least opt for the standard four weeks which appears to apply in most situations where one is entitled to appeal. That is the purpose of the five amendments.