Vol. 471 No. 1
213 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Irish Security Industry Association in relation to the possible implications of the proposed new working time Bill; if so, whether he has considered such concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20432/96]
I am aware of the concerns of the Irish Security Industry Association in relation to the possible implications for the association of the proposed new working time Bill. There have been a number of meetings and consultations with the two sides of the security industry at both ministerial and official level.
The Bill which will implement the EU Directive on the organisation of working time has as its background concern the health and safety of employees and it is this concern which explains the provisions on minimum rest periods and the maximum weekly working time limit of 48 hours.
The Bill builds in substantial flexibility while maintaining the fundamental commitment to safeguard the health and safety of workers.
Article 6 of the directive provides that the average weekly working time of employees should not exceed 48 hours. The directive allows for weekly working hours to be averaged over a period of six months for the security industry or, in particular circumstances, over a period of 12 months by agreement between the two sides of industry.
I have given very careful consideration to the concerns of the security industry and other industries in the context of preparing this legislation which I hope to publish in the next few weeks.
