Vol. 521 No. 1
66 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will introduce legislation necessary to give effect to the EU Directive 97/81/EC regarding the rights of part-time workers; the special difficulties on which the Government has based its application to the EU for a special derogation for a further year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16503/00]
In the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (Framework 1.3(b)(6)) the Government gave an undertaking that the Bill to implement the EU directive on part-time work will be introduced in the Oireachtas by June 2000. A draft scheme of the Bill on part-time work is currently with the parliamentary draftsman's office. I hope to have the Bill enacted before the end of the year.
I have informed the European Commission formally through the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union that Ireland proposes to avail itself of the provision in Article 2.1 of the Directive under which, "Member States may have a maximum of one more year, if necessary, to take account of special difficulties.". The Commission has responded to the effect that this intention has been noted.
Difficulties arose during the negotiations which took place in the tripartite working group on the implementation of the directive and related, in particular, to the scope of the directive and whether non-contributory occupational pensions came within that scope. Difficulties also arose in agreeing a definition of workers who work on a casual basis who may be excluded from certain benefits on objective grounds.
