Vol. 573 No. 3
180 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has plans to introduce legislation to reduce the working week in this State; if so, the nature of these plans including the proposed number of hours by which the working week will be reduced; the timeline within which this reduction will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24937/03]
Under the terms of the Programme for National Recovery 1987-1990, the working week was reduced from 40 hours a week to 39 hours a week. The issue of the length of the working week has not been raised again by the social partners in subsequent national agreements negotiated since then.
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which implemented EU Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993, concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, provides for a maximum average hourly working week of 48 hours averaged generally over a four month period.
I have no plans to reduce the working week below 39 hours a week nor to lower the threshold on maximum weekly working hours provided for in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
