Sir, - Myles na Gopaleen would undoubtedly be in sympathy with our legislators who are working so hard to restrict workers' rights to go beyond the 48 hours in a working week. Myles (or was it Brendan Behan?) frequently expressed the opinion that "work is the curse of the drinking classes".
Could one ask a practical question, untainted by the ideology of the Right or the Left, which is of particular relevance to our international business? If a Christmas cracker manufacturer receives a late order in early December, would he and his employees be in breach of the law if they agreed to work 60 hours in a week to meet the delivery deadline?
If a pharmaceutical company did likewise to deliver urgently needed drugs to UNICEF, to tackle an outbreak of diphtheria in a developing country, would the company have to face the full rigours of the law? If a microchip manufacturer experiences a sudden surge in international demand, is the business rejected because its fulfilment would breach the 48 hour rule?
Our undoubted and acknowledged success as an export led economy owes much to the flexibility of workers and managers, freight forwarders, carriers and also Customs and Excise. This is even more important now, as modern manufacturing demands "just in time" deliveries.
Competitive forces are driving international business. It seems that the 48 hour legislation may damage our ability to compete, and to this extent may have unfortunate and unintended consequences. Our next door neighbour and major competitor has secured an opt out clause. Unless seriously amended, the proposed legislation will combine bad law with bad economics. - Yours, etc.,
Chief executive,
Irish Exporters' Association, Holbrook House, Holles Street,
Dublin 2.