A letter has already been sent by Deputy Jim Mitchell, who is chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, which meets regularly on Thursdays, because problems are being created for some of the Members of that committee. That committee has organised its timetable as far as June this year. When the Dáil sits next week I hope the chairmen will meet and work out a timetable to avoid duplication and resolve this matter. I will ask my colleagues to sit down and discuss how we can ensure that there will be no clashes in future. It may not be possible to avoid clashes at all times because the availability of venues is another problem. While we may try to avoid a clash of meetings, a room with adequate facilities may not be available. That is part of our problem.
The purpose of the Terms of Employment (Information) Bill, 1993, is to provide for the implementation of provisions of the EU Council Directive on employers' obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to contract of employment or employment relationship. The Bill also amends the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973. The Bill is primarily concerned with the provision of information to employees about their terms of employment. The main provisions are as follows.
The Bill requires employers to provide their employees with a written statement of specified particulars of employment within two months of commencement of employment. In the case of employees assigned to work outside the State for not less than one month an employer must provide supplementary information to the employee prior to the employee's departure. Notification of any change in the terms of employment must be notified to the employee within one month of such change. Existing employees must be supplied with a written statement of the particulars of their terms of employment within two months of requesting such a statement.
Complaints about non-compliance with the terms of the Bill may be referred to the rights commissioner in the first instance with a right to appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. If the complaint is upheld the employer may be directed to pay compensation of up to four week's pay to the employee in addition to being required to supply the required information. Section 9 of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973, which is being repealed by the Bill, provides that an employee must be provided with certain specified particulars of employment. The provisions of the Bill, in order to comply with the terms of the directive, are more extensive in a number a respects than the provisions of the 1973 Act.
Prior to consideration on Committee Stage of the Bill it should be noted that, in addition to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, the following Deputies have put down amendments: Deputies Richard Bruton, Pat Rabbitte and Máirín Quill. We will now proceed with the Committee Stage.
Terms of Employment (Information) Bill, 1993: Committee Stage.
