Andrew Boylan
Ceist:29 Mr. Boylan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will introduce legislation on Sunday trading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12065/98]
Written Answers. - Sunday Trading.
Michael D'Arcy
Ceist:35 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will introduce legislation on Sunday trading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12066/98]
Nora Owen
Ceist:124 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will introduce legislation on Sunday trading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12087/98]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:136 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made in relation to reaching a voluntarily agreed approach to the issue of Sunday working in the retail trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12215/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 35, 124 and 136 together.
As indicated in replies to earlier parliamentary questions on the matter, the difficulties on the employment front associated with the growing practice of Sunday trading have been the subject of a discussion process between IBEC and trade union interests, including the unions primarily concerned, SIPTU and MANDATE, under an agreed independent chairman. This process was set in motion in January last by me in the hope and belief that a partnership approach would succeed in resolving the difficulties to the mutual satisfaction of both sides without the need for recourse to legislation.
Last week I received a report from the independent chairman on the outcome of the discussion process. This report indicates that the parties involved accepted that a code of practice along lines proposed by the chairman could, without prejudicing the fundamental position of either side, form the basis of a common and voluntary approach to practice in relation to retail sector Sunday working.
I am disposed to accepting the report and propose to request the Labour Relations Commission, pursuant to section 35(2) of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, to prepare a code of practice on Sunday working in the retail trade. I have now written to ICTU and IBEC advising them of my intention and seeking confirmation of their acceptance that this approach is the best way forward in seeking a solution to this problem.