Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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39. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the commitment in the programme for Government to introduce legislation to safeguard workers against precarious and low-hours contracts is not on the priority list for legislation in this term of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6202/17]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, Minister Mitchell O’Connor, and I intend to bring forward proposals in response to the Programme for Government commitment for consideration by Government.  We intend to include protections aimed particularly at low-paid, more vulnerable workers.  Our proposals will address the issue of employees on low hour contracts who consistently work more hours each week but whose contracts do not reflect the reality of their hours worked. The proposals will also seek to ensure that employees are better informed about the nature of their employment arrangements and their core terms at an early stage in their employment.

The policy response to the Programme for Government commitment is being informed by the University of Limerick study on zero hour contracts and low hour contracts as well as the extensive material and practical examples provided by respondents to the public consultation on that study conducted by my Department.

Developing policy proposals on employment rights is a complex matter. A balance needs to be found between protecting the rights of employees and avoiding unintended consequences on business which may negatively affect the competitiveness of the Irish economy. 

My Department is currently engaged in a dialogue process with ICTU and Ibec to secure broad agreement before proposals are finalised. This work is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and is nearing conclusion. The intention is to bring our proposals to Government in Q1 2017.

The Deputy will appreciate that these legislative proposals can only be included in the priority list for legislation in the current Dail term after they have been considered and approved by Government. Once approved, the legislation can be progressed expeditiously.