Vol. 476 No. 1
41 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the representations or contacts, if any, made by him or officials at his Department to the IDA in relation to the organisation of working time legislation. [6202/97]
There have been numerous contacts between myself, officials in my Department and the IDA concerning the legislation to implement the Directive on the Organisation of Working Time. The views of the IDA on the legislation were sought when proposals were being prepared for submission to Government and there have been continuing contacts since. In the course of these discussions the IDA raised certain concerns about the proposed Bill and, in particular, about perceptions that might be generated about its possible impact. These views were taken fully into account in formulating the amendments which were made to the Bill on Committee Stage.
Shortly before the Bill was considered on Committee Stage, the IDA were briefed on developments in relation to the legislation including the proposed amendments and indicated their general satisfaction at the manner in which the concerns of their client companies were being addressed. It was after this meeting that I became aware that, in early January prior to Committee Stage amendments being considered, the IDA had written to the Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy conveying their views on the legislation. As I explained at my press conference last week, I conveyed my surprise at the contents of the letter to the IDA but I did not ask them to withdraw the letter. Subsequently, they did withdraw the letter at their own initiative explaining that their views on the legislation had altered considerably since it had been written.
The Bill, as currently drafted, meets the concerns of a number of American companies and others such as the scope of the legislation to cover managers and other senior personnel and record keeping.
This Bill is a balanced measure arrived at through deep and wide consultation with the social partners. This partnership approach has served Ireland well. It has served employers, employees and the unemployed well. It has brought, along with this Government's superb handling of the economy, industrial peace, economic well being, increased employment, reduced unemployment, low inflation, low mortgage interest rates, etc. Partnership works. This Bill is built on this approach.
