asked the Minister for Labour if he will state, for each of the past five years, the number of applications for exemption orders under the Conditions of Employment Acts received by him from employers wishing to introduce shift work, indicating in respect of each such application; (1) the firm involved; (2) the number of employees involved; (3) whether they were male or female; (4) the period for which the exemption was sought; (5) whether it is still in force; (6) the nature of the shift sought and (7) whether the application was successful.
Written Answers. - Shift Work Licences.
207.
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to applications for shift work licences under the Conditions of Employment Act, 1936. I regret that the information sought is not available in the details required and that it would take an inordinate amount of time to abstract from the Department's records, involving the redeployment of scarce staff resources from essential duties.
A draft order, entitled the Employment Equality (Employment of Women) Order, which was approved by Seanad Éireann on 19 March and now awaits the approval of Dáil Éireann, will bring to an end the existing legal prohibition on the employment of women in industrial nightwork and on Sundays. The removal of the restrictions on the employment of women at night should greatly ease the position in relation to the processing of applications for shift work licences.