Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, provides for greater co-ordination between organisations concerned with employment rights compliance, with a view to realising the considerable potential for synergy that exists in this area. In particular, the agreement provides that authorised officers of the new National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, will join officers of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners to work together in joint investigation units. The role of these units is to address areas where evidence suggests that non-compliance with employment rights legislation exists.

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007, which came into operation on 30 March 2007, provides for the disclosure of relevant employment data between the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and NERA. This legislation effectively enables NERA to join the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to work together in joint investigation units. Since the enactment of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007, exchange of information activity has already taken place between the bodies in several specific cases. In addition, joint investigation unit activity, involving the three bodies, has also taken place, particularly in the context of the NERA construction industry campaign in May to July 2007. A working group has been established comprising the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and NERA to further enhance procedures for improved cross-departmental co-operation, the sharing of information by the respective Departments and offices and to plan future joint investigation activities and strategies.

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