Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Nora Owen

Question:

60 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has implemented the EU directive on part-time work; if so, when it was implemented; if not, when it will be implemented and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19382/99]

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

A tripartite working group, representative of the social partners and Government, has been set up to discuss the measures necessary for the transposition of the EU Directive on Part-Time Work, which must be implemented by 20 January 2000. The working group has reached an advanced stage in its discussions and draft heads of the Bill are currently being prepared by my Department with a view to transposing the directive.

The purpose of the directive is to prevent part-time workers from being treated less favourably than full-time workers and, in this regard, it aims to provide for the removal of discrimination against part-time workers and to improve the quality of part-time work generally. The directive is also intended to facilitate the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis and to contribute to the flexible organisation of working time in a manner which takes into account the needs of both employees and employers.