Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 May 1990

Vol. 399 No. 3

Written Answers. - Conditions of Employment Legislation.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

97 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the terms and conditions of employment for employees of a company (details supplied) are in breach of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973, as the contract states that employees in his/her first six months of employment may have his/her employment terminated without notice at the company's absolute discretion; the action he proposes to take to oblige this company to comply with labour law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Labour (Mr. B. Ahern)

I am aware of the contract to which the Deputy refers.

The Minimun Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973 provides that an employer shall, in order to terminate his employee's contract of employment, give minimum notice of between one and eight weeks depending on the eligible employee's length of service. The Act makes it clear that any contract which provides for a period of notice less than that shall have effect as if the contract provided for a period of notice in accordance with the Act.

The Minister for Labour is not empowered under the 1973 Act to investigate claims of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. The employees concerned are, however, free to refer any dispute regarding entitlement to notice to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.