Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline any forthcoming legislation for enhancing the job security of those on short-hours and zero-hours contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28708/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Last February, I commissioned the University of Limerick (UL) to carry out a study into the prevalence of zero-hour and low-hour contracts and their impact on Irish 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 me to make any evidence-based policy recommendations to Government considered necessary on foot of the study.

The study will have a broad scope, covering both the public and private sectors, with a particular focus on the retail, hospitality, education and health sectors. The study will examine how zero and low hour contracts operate in practice and how they impact on employees. It will assess the advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of employer and employee and assess the current employment rights legislation as it applies to employees on such contracts. The study will also consider recent developments in other jurisdictions, including the UK in particular. The study may also identify how the information gap might be addressed in the future.

A wide range of stakeholders is being canvassed to contribute to the study and I expect the study to be completed shortly.

The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot anticipate the outcome of the study or the Government’s consideration of the study’s findings.