Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his legislative plans to assist the Dunnes Stores workers. [26166/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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The matters that have been in dispute at Dunnes Stores have revolved around a range of issues, including the introduction of banded hours contracts, individual and collective representational rights and a review of the use of temporary contracts. The matter has been before the Labour Court on a number of occasions. It is my opinion that engagement with the State's industrial relations machinery offers the best way whereby the parties involved in disputes can hope to resolve their differences. Ultimately, responsibility for the settlement of a trade dispute rests with the parties to the dispute.

The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015 is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas and I expect it to be enacted before the summer recess. The Bill provides for the reintroduction of a mechanism for the registration of employment agreements between an employer or employers and trade unions governing terms and conditions in individual enterprises. Such agreements will not be legally binding beyond the subscribing parties. The Bill also provides for a new statutory framework to replace the former sectoral Registered Employment Agreements (REAs). The Bill will further provide a mechanism for workers who seek to improve their terms and conditions in companies where collective bargaining is not recognised by their employer. When enacted it will ensure that such workers, aided by a trade union, can advance claims about remuneration, terms and conditions and have these determined by the Labour Court based on comparisons with similar companies. The Bill includes strong anti-victimisation protections.

In relation to zero hour contracts, I have commissioned the University of Limerick (UL) to carry out a study into the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and the impact of such contracts on employees. The key objectives of the study are:

- To fill the gap in knowledge that currently exists in terms of the hard data and information that is available concerning the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts in the Irish economy and the manner of their use

- To assess the impact of zero hour and low hour contracts on employees

- To enable the Minister to make any evidence-based policy recommendations to Government considered necessary on foot of the study.

The study has a broad scope, covering both the public and private sectors, with a particular focus on the retail, hospitality, education and health sectors. It will fill the gap in knowledge that currently exists in terms of the hard data and information that is available concerning the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts in the Irish economy. The study will examine how such contracts operate in practice and assess the advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of employer and employee. It will also assess the current employment rights legislation as it applies to employees on such contracts, and consider recent developments in other jurisdictions, including the UK in particular. The findings will enable me to make any evidence-based policy recommendations to Government considered necessary on foot of the study.

A wide range of stakeholders is being canvassed to contribute to the study, which I expect to be completed by the end of the Summer. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot anticipate the outcome of the study, or the Government’s consideration of the study’s findings.