Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The purpose of Part 2 of the Bill, as published, was to provide for the establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority on a statutory footing. The employment law is already in place. Employers must comply with the employment law as it exists. This does not amend the employment law which exists in the context of minimum wage, holiday entitlements, EROs and registered employment agreements. Therefore, employers are compelled to comply with existing law. The issue of inspections does not impose a regulatory burden. When the Bill evolves and is finally completed we will ensure any burden on business is minimised. Fundamentally, this Bill is about employment rights, protecting workers, and ensuring they are entitled to their statutory provisions. NERA is working very effectively and its inspectors have joined up operations with Revenue and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Even though it has not been established on a statutory footing this organisation is working and is out and about. Deputies have occasionally said to me that it is an over-enthusiastic organisation but at the end of the day it is there to ensure that employers comply with the law. It is important also that it is trying to foster a culture of compliance. This is about educating employers, informing them of their various representative organisations such as IBEC and ISME, etc, so that we may achieve a broad compliance culture. It is not all about inspections but concerns education as well as enforcement.

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