Howlin questions use of zero-hours contracts in Leinster House

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the use of zero-hour employment contracts as calls were made to end such practices in Leinster House.

He told the Dáil the Government planned to ban the contracts and “ensure people have more security in respect of the hours they work”.

The Taoiseach added, however, that sometimes “if-and-when contracts may be necessary and can work for the employee, particularly where there is an on-call or agency arrangement”.

Mr Varadkar was responding to Labour leader Brendan Howlin who said the House had repeatedly "agreed motions seeking to make employment sustainable and ensure decent working conditions for employees".

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After the political crisis and the possibility of a general election, Mr Howlin said he was "struck by a report by Jack Power in The Irish Times which pointed to the significant numbers of people employed in the Oireachtas on if-and-when contracts".

He said this “sends a poor message to employers”.

The working hours of a number of Leinster House employees on contract depend on the varying daily sitting hours of the Dáil and Seanad.

Mr Howlin asked the Taoiseach would he “join with me in asking the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to ensure if-and-when contracts are no longer given to staff employed by it”.

Mr Varadkar told him the “running of the Oireachtas is and ought to be a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission”.

The Government would introduce legislation to “ban zero-hour contracts and ensure workers have greater certainty as to the hours they are working so that they can plan their lives and finances”.

But he said that “sometimes, however, if-and-when contracts may be necessary and can work for the employee, particularly where there is an on-call or agency arrangement”.

Mr Varadkar added: “I will leave actual contractual matters for staff to the good offices of the commission.”