Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

In my first reply I failed to refer to the employment law compliance Bill. It will be published in the early stages of the next parliamentary session. Labour inspectors can go about their business because they are set up on an interim basis and have all the statutory supports in terms of enforcing employment rights legislation. They are out and about in an effective manner.

Last June, prior to the "Prime Time Investigates" report, NERA met with the RSA to discuss areas where the bodies could mutually accommodate each other. That will continue and NERA will be involved in joint inspections in the context of the RSA, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. These issues are occurring on a continual basis. NERA has taken prosecutions and has uncovered breaches of terms and conditions and arrears have been collected on behalf of workers who did not receive the full entitlement of pay and conditions.

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