This article is from page 14 of the 2007-05-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A COMPANY which did not allow a 17-year-old employee adequate rest periods between shifts has been prosecuted.
Clare Brook Properties Ltd, trad- ing as The Oakwood Arms Hotel, Mount Kennett Place, Henry Street, Limerick, was accused of offences relating to dates last August.
Defending solicitor Louis Kerin told Shannon District Court that his chent was pleading guilty, relating to six Summonses.
Caroline Hayes, of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment, told the court that a 17-year- old boy worked between 12.06pm and 12.09am, on August 5 last year.
This was 12 hours and three min- utes and was longer than should have
been allowed.
On August 10, he worked between 5.30pm and 11.5l1pm, when he should not have worked after 10pm.
Ms Hayes pointed out that a person aged between 16 and 18 was entitled to a minimum rest of 12 hours be- tween shifts and this was not given.
On one occasion, the boy had a rest period of less than eight hours.
She said when she visited the
premises, the employer wasn’t there and she met the payroll clerk.
‘Legislation in relation to the pro- tection of young persons wasn’t be- ThOrcmreKOl ates us10 KO MMMESJOLoMCT-BLOE
Mr Kerin said the case arose from a “routine inspection’.
“My client co-operated fully. You have assisted them with instructions, to ensure it won’t happen again,” said Mr Kerin.
He said the 17-year-old boy has sought weekend work and his super- visor didn’t realise he was under the age of 18.
‘He was given as many hours as he wanted,’ said the solicitor.
Mr Hayes said this occurred during the summer holidays and the boy was going back to school after the break.
Judge Aneas McCarthy imposed fines totalling €1,600.