Vol. 548 No. 3
100 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001, will impact on part-time workers in the psychiatric services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4935/02]
The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001, (No. 45 of 2001), which came into operation on 20 December 2001, implements EU Council Directive 97/81/EC in Irish law.
The main purpose of the Act is to provide that a part-time employee, including those employed in the psychiatric services, cannot be treated in a less favourable manner than a comparable full-time employee in relation to conditions of employment; to provide that all employee protection legislation applies to a part-time employee in the manner already applying to a full-time employee; to improve the quality of part-time work; and to facilitate the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis and to contribute to the flexible organisation of working time in a manner which takes into account the needs of employers and workers.
An information booklet on the Act is available on my Department's website www.entemp.ie which sets out in plain language the main provisions of the Act. Further information on the Act may also be obtained from my Department's employment rights information unit (Lo-Call Phone No. 1890 201615).
