Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will develop the code of practise on access to part-time working to promote the entitlement to additional hours of work. [51894/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Code of Practice on Access to Part-Time Working, which was promulgated in 2006, already contains provisions relating to the provision of additional hours of work to employees. The Code was prepared by the Labour Relations Commission in line with Section 13(5) of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001. The provisions in the 2001 Act had implemented an EU Directive, which itself was based on a Framework Agreement of the European Social Partners. The Framework Agreement on part-time work aimed to facilitate the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis and to contribute to the flexible organisation of working time in a manner which takes into account the needs of both employers and employees.

The Code of Practice contains provisions both in relation to transferring from full-time work to part-time work and from part-time work to full-time work. One of the basic principles referred to in paragraph 4 of the Code is that, as far as possible, employers should give consideration to requests by employees to transfer from part-time to full-time work, or to increase their working time should the opportunity arise. In addition, paragraph 8 of the Code includes a reference to the transfer from part-time to full-time work. I am satisfied that the Code of Practice encourages flexibility and responds to requests from employees to move from part-time towards full-time employment, or vice versa.