Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 2

Written Answers. - EU Working Time Directive.

Eamon Walsh

Question:

166 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will have arrangements made to have a phase-in period of one year for the new EU Working Directive on working time for the security industry in view of the unusual working hours in this industry; if he will ensure that this phase-in period is implemented in order to ensure that these workers do not suffer substantial pay losses per week to bring the industry into line with the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20609/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

Article 6 of the Working Time Directive provides, in the interests of protecting the safety and health of workers, that the average weekly working time of employees should not exceed 48 hours. The directive allows for weekly working hours to be averaged over a period of six months in the case of certain activities such as the security industry or, in particular circumstances, over a period of 12 months by agreement between the two sides of industry. While the directive allows for the phasing-in of the provision relating to annual leave, there is no provision for the phasing-in of the 48 hour working week or the provisions of the directive relating to rest time.

I assure the Deputy that I am giving very careful consideration to the special concerns of the security industry and other industries in the context of preparing the legislation to implement the Working Time Directives which I hope to publish in the next few weeks.