Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Fianna Fáil supports the banning of zero-hour contracts. This policy has been part of our manifesto, as a priority, when we negotiated our recent confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael. We agree with the general principles of the Bill but we feel that there are gaps and some weaknesses as it is currently worded. We believe the Bill can be improved when it is on Committee Stage. Following clarification from the Oireachtas services, we have decided to not move our amendment, which had been placed on the Order Paper for today. This is due to the Standing Orders whereby any Private Members' Bill that passes its Second Reading shall be referred to the relevant select committee to undertake detailed legislative scrutiny of provisions contained. While protecting workers from zero-hour contracts is paramount, it is also our interest to minimise the burden on small businesses so that jobs are protected, which is fundamental. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is currently engaged in a dialogue process with ICTU and IBEC to secure broad agreement on legislative proposals to deal with the issues of low-hour contracts and vulnerable workers, and the recommendations should be included in any future Bill. We will support this Bill going to the next Stage and we will call for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to honour her commitment in the confidence and supply arrangement and to accelerate the work of the Department with regard to these proposals in order that the committee can scrutinise the finalised provisions while taking on board the main principles of both the Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016 and the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016. While we support the Bill in general with respect to improving job security of workers on low-hour contracts, considerable amendments need to be made to make it fit for purpose. It is fundamental that we protect the employer as well as the employee. That will have to be tightened up in this Bill before it goes forward.