Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sunday Trading.

Dan Neville

Question:

17 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the response, if any, she has received from ICTU and IBEC regarding her proposals on Sunday trading and the introduction of a code of practice; and if she has asked the Labour Relations Commission to commence work on a code of practice in this regard. [15730/98]

Andrew Boylan

Question:

37 Mr. Boylan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the response, if any, she has received from ICTU and IBEC regarding her proposals on Sunday trading and the introduction of a code of practice; and if she has asked the Labour Relations Commission to commence work on a code of practice in this regard. [15731/98]

Nora Owen

Question:

90 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the response, if any, she has received from ICTU and IBEC regarding her proposals on Sunday trading and the introduction of a code of practice; and if she has asked the Labour Relations Commission to commence work on a code of practice in this regard. [15750/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 21, 37, 47 and 90 together.

As indicated in replies to parliamentary questions on this matter on 26 May last, the difficulties on the employment front associated with the growing practice of Sunday trading were the subject of a discussion process earlier this year between IBEC and trade union interests, including the unions primarily concerned, SIPTU and MANDATE, under an agreed independent chairman.

The report from the independent chairman on the outcome of this discussion process, which I received in May indicated that the parties involved accepted that a code of practice along lines proposed by the chairman could, without prejudicing the fundamental position of either side, form the basis of a common and voluntary approach to practice in relation to retail sector Sunday working.

I have accepted the thrust of this report and have requested the Labour Relations Commission pursuant to section 35 (2) of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, to prepare a code of practice on Sunday working in the retail trade.

I will be discussing with the LRC the time scale for the preparation of this code. It is my intention to declare, by order, the code to be a code of practice for the purposes of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. I am confident that this proposed code will provide a satisfactory basis for the development of future Sunday working arrangements that will be to the mutual advantage of employers and employees.