‘Zero-hour’ contracts

Sir, – Further to "ESRI rejects claim tens of thousands on zero-hour contracts" (November 15th), it would be a lot more enlightening for us all if Prof Seamus McGuinness of the ESRI chose to generate some credible research evidence into the extent of precarious contracts in the Irish labour market before offering public conjecture on the subject.

It surely can’t be beyond the wit of the Central Statistics Office and the ESRI to fill the data gap in the Irish Labour Market Survey to which he alludes.

Until then, surely Mandate is as entitled to its “opinion” on this subject as he is. – Yours, etc,

EAMON CLARKIN,