Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1997

SECTION 25.

Ms E. Fitzgerald

I move amendment No. 33:

In page 23, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following subsection:

"(2) The Minister may by regulations exempt from the application of subsection (1) any specified class or classes of employer and regulations under this subsection may provide that any such exemption shall not have effect save to the extent that specified conditions are complied with.".

This amendment is to exempt employers, subject to certain conditions, from excessive detailed record keeping, the multinationals expressed an interest in this.

Amendment agreed to.

Miss Harney

I move amendment No. 34:

In page 23, subsection (2), line 14, after "who" to insert ", without reasonable cause,".

The purpose of this amendment was to make it a defence for an employer that their records or documents had been legitimately lost, for example, in a fire. What the Minister of State did earlier probably covers what I am trying to achieve. It is an attempt to be reasonable and fair.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 25, as amended, agreed to.