Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996, provide that, if it can be shown that the application of certain provisions of the legislation would be impracticable, I may, by licence or by regulations, allow the employment of young persons on different terms, within the limits permitted by the directive and provided that the health and safety of the young persons will not be affected.
The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) (Exclusion of Workers in the Fishing or Shipping Sectors) Regulations, 1997, provide for compensatory daily or weekly rest breaks to be given in place of the specified rest breaks for young workers employed in fishing or shipping.
There is also specific provision in the Act that the rules on hours of work, night work and minimum periods of rest do not apply to young people who are members of the Defence Forces when on active service; engaged in operational duties at sea or in aid of the civil power or in training associated with such activities.
There have been no applications to date for licences or for regulations in relation to apprentice jockeys under sections 7 or 8 of the Act, nor am I aware of any problems with the working hours of apprentice jockeys.
