Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree it is too high. I am just saying it is important to note the context around why inspections take place. Inspections take place, for the most part, because there is a suspicion there is an issue. That partly explains why the 98% figure is so high. I am not saying that is good enough, but it is not reflective of the workplace more generally.

As to whether the WRC has sufficient resources in its inspectorate, it currently has 65 serving inspectors of a sanctioned complement of 70. That sanctioned complement represents an increase of ten posts since 2021 and my Department will keep staffing levels under ongoing review. The inspectorate operates as a decentralised service with inspection teams and support staff located in Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Sligo and Ennis. My Department works closely with the WRC to monitor and review its resource requirements. This year the WRC is allocated funding of €16.8 million for pay and non-pay by my Department. In blunt terms, if the WRC needs more resources and can justify the request, it will not find me wanting in terms of responding. It is a really important part of our industrial machinery and we work closely with it. The commission is of course independent of the Department with respect to its decision-making, but we are the funding Department. It is a very important resource to maintain industrial peace and if there is a case made we will respond to it positively.