Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to the Minister to see if there is any prospect of her considering moving the date from which the Act will be commenced to three months rather than six months. We had a discussion on this issue the last time and I understand there needs to be a level of preparedness for business, other stakeholders and for the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to get their heads around what is reasonably complex legislation. I propose that we delete six months and substitute that with three months to ensure the implementation of the Bill commences at the very earliest opportunity after its enactment by these Houses and passing through that process and we would hope to have it signed into law by the President. We have waited a significant number of years, as the Minister is aware, for this legislation to come through these Houses so I ask the Minister and this House to consider this request.