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

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 30, line 14, to delete "€2,000" and substitute "€4,000".

There are several problems with existing employment legislation and infrastructure. One of these problems is that the existing regime does not necessarily have the teeth to ensure unscrupulous employers fulfil their responsibilities. Penalties must represent sufficient incentive to bring such employers into line. I realise there is a constitutional consideration in that any fine over €5,000 is, owing to precedence, considered to be a criminal matter and, therefore, cannot be adjudged in such a forum as the workplace relations commission. However, there is nothing to prevent the Minister from increasing the maximum penalty to €4,000. Setting the maximum fine at that level might prevent certain employers from taking a strategic decision to break the law.