Ms Rhona Murphy:

I want to address the question Senator O’Keeffe raised about numbers and non-attendance. Unfortunately, we do not have those figures. We looked for them but they do not seem to be captured by any of the annual reports that we searched. We did find insight into the level of legal representation that occurs in the Employment Appeals Tribunal. As I mentioned briefly earlier, that is approximately 50% and interestingly, the split is relatively even between employers and employees choosing to have legal representation.

I would also like to thank the committee for the opportunity to be here and to present IBEC’s views on the issues raised. We have heard some difficult individual stories and cases but in the vast majority of cases employers attend these fora. In the event that an award is made against them most of the time it is paid. I do not accept the suggestion that HR departments are sanitising divisions for coercive behaviour. Most of the time they are just paying people’s wages, advising them of their maternity protection rights, looking out for their health and safety, paying their pensions. The notion that this is a routine thing is absolutely wrong. I ask that this be borne in mind before we rush to action on issues such as piercing the corporate veil and the chilling effect that would have on employment. The presentation of bonds would be an issue too, as would punitive damages. All of these things have an impact on other people within their place of employment. I urge caution and balance before any decisions like that are made.