Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their interesting presentation. This is a very important piece of work. I welcome the creation of a mechanism to ensure fair treatment for all employees and provide a means for employees to seek justice when they are not fairly treated. Sinn Féin has made a detailed submission on the issue, focusing on aspects such as trade union recognition, redundancies and pensions. I have some concerns.

In every system a person must have the right to appeal. In the course of the document it states that the Labour Court would examine if the claim is sufficiently meritorious to proceed to an appeal hearing. I wanted to hear the views of the witnesses on that issue. Compliance is another very important issue. As elected representatives we have all spoken to individuals who have rights in legislation but because of compliance and enforcement have not experienced the fulfilment of those rights. Will Mr. Dowling outline his views on that issue?

Mr. Dowling made the interesting point that there seems to be a reversal between the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the rights commissioners in advance of debate and the democratic decision making process. From what direction is the reversal coming?