Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The figures show that more than 100,000 people are underemployed. That is 30,000 more than in 2008, so it is obviously a very large number. On my amendment and with due respect to the Minister, there is nothing in this which is not workable. Many people throughout the unions have been lobbying for and seeking this change since 2013. Many of these people may have been part of those original consultations on putting together the regulations and codes but are saying that this is required. How we do that is one thing.

We are not only talking about nurses and teachers, for whom this is a massive problem, but about some of the most vulnerable people who are in low-skilled and low-paid jobs in local shops. If one goes into the Square in Tallaght, one will find people in the pound shops and other shops who are in the position of trying to get hours or extra hours and of never knowing how many hours they are going to work. It is very hard to envisage them having access to, or recognising their own rights in terms of, employment law. I know I would not have been able to take a case or have been aware of case law. These are some of the most vulnerable groups.

We should also take a special look at lone parents. When people are in situations of disadvantage, they sometimes become almost grateful for the few hours their employers will give them and are petrified to rock the boat. I do not understand how a positive measure whereby an employer has to offer any extra hours to employees would have any negative impact. In terms of qualifications, nearly everybody working in a shop would have the same qualifications, unless a manager's job has come up. My amendment takes into account the concern raised when the provision was taken out on Report Stage, which was that hours might not be appropriate to the employee's qualifications.

On the basis of this changing further and it being stated that it is unworkable, I have come to the view that the Minister will, for reasons that are none too clear, be slow to accept this amendment no matter what form it takes and even if we manage to address all of the concerns raised in the advice she is getting. At this point, I am willing to look at everything she has outlined. I have support across the House for this amendment. I am willing to take into account everything the Minister mentioned regarding the advice of the Workplace Relations Commissions, WRC, and the issues it has raised. I have no problem coming back with a further amended version of this amendment which takes those considerations into account. If we are clearly identifying X, Y or Z as the problem, we can make this amendment even stronger and make it workable. I will go back over the transcript to identify everything that was highlighted as being an issue. I will improve on the amendment further at that point.