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

We are in public session. It is important at this stage to point out that we have received 44 petitions since this process was initially established. That demonstrates the level of demand among the public for a committee of this nature. The petitions are being examined so we can decide how best to progress them and establish if they are admissible to the committee currently. All members have been circulated with a note on the committee and it is important that we now adjudicate on those petitions.

The first petition we will look at is P00027/12 from Mr. John O'Sullivan on issues arising from his experience with the Employment Appeals Tribunal. As members will be aware, Mr. O'Sullivan's petition looks at the length of time it takes to process claims with the EAT, the need to employ a legal team, the fact the tribunal currently has no powers to enforce rules, the need for employers to lodge a security bond with the tribunal in advance of hearings and qualifications of appointed liquidators and the fact they are not currently affiliated to a regulator body. Does anyone have anything they would like to add on this petition?

It is an important petition that addresses the experiences of many workers. The petition has been relayed to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, who has come back to us with a detailed letter. He has been dealing with this issue himself with the petitioner. The Minister is seeking to put together legislation on workplace relations and has given a commitment to deal with the issues detailed in the petition. The proposal is that we allow the Minister to deal with the elements in the petition, we will leave the petition open and keep an eye out to ensure its objectives are being dealt with and we will revisit it in six months to see where we are. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next petition for consideration is P00028/12 from Mr. Michael O'Flanagan of the Kilmainham and Inchicore Heritage Group, concerning the preservation of Kilmainham mill. It is an important example of built heritage and this group wants to add the mill to the existing built heritage in the area, which includes Kilmainham Gaol and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Perhaps Deputy Conaghan might like to add some points to this.