The programme for Government includes various commitments in regard to achieving full employment, noting that work is key to independence and social integration. The House has repeatedly agreed motions seeking to make employment sustainable and ensure decent working conditions for employees. There has been much debate in recent days about the consequences of an early election. In the midst of all that discussion, I 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. That this is happening sends a poor message to employers. Will the Taoiseach 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?

The running of the Oireachtas is and ought to be a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The Government has legislative plans to ban zero-hour contracts and ensure people have more security in respect of the hours they work. 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. As I said, the Government will 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. However, I will leave actual contractual matters for staff to the good offices of the commission.