Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

A key Government commitment in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 provided for the establishment of an office for the director of employment rights compliance, known as the national employment rights authority, with an increased labour inspectorate, by the end of 2007.

I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made on the establishment of the new authority. The national employment rights authority, NERA, was established on an interim basis following the appointment of its director, Ger Deering, in February this year. The management team of NERA is substantially in place as the director and senior management team, including two principal officers, two assistant principals, an accountant and a legal adviser, have been appointed.

The management team will be supported by additional clerical and administrative staff. The total staff complement of NERA is currently 83. Sanction has been secured from the Department of Finance for an additional 59 labour inspectors. The necessary arrangements and selection process for the recruitment of the remaining inspectors are well advanced, including the recruitment of ten labour inspectors with specialist language skills. To date, seven new inspectors have been appointed. The process is well on target to meet the commitment in Towards 2016 of having 90 inspectors in place by the end of 2007. To make progress with its public awareness and education programme, the National Employment Rights Authority has undertaken a number of tendering processes for the design and development of a website and for advertising and communications services.

Significant work has been done on the substantial employment law compliance Bill, which will be published before the end of the year. Not only will it provide for the establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority on a statutory basis but it will also provide for a new model of compliance, which will include an increased penalties regime throughout all aspects of employment rights legislation. The Bill will simplify the adjudication and redress mechanisms which are available in the employment rights area. It will strengthen existing arrangements relating to investigations by labour inspectors.

The authority has commenced a series of meetings with its stakeholders to initiate a structured dialogue on the new compliance model. Further legislation that was enacted recently provides for certain information to be exchanged through joint investigation units involving three parties — the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the National Employment Rights Authority, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. The enactment of this legislation facilitates the operation of joint investigations by the three parties, or a combination of the parties, if breaches of law are suspected. The exchange of information between the three bodies has already commenced. I do not doubt that it will lead to more effective use of resources by the three bodies, as well as improved compliance with labour law.

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