John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Bill is about enterprise, job creation and the establishment of a one-stop-shop for business. We have a compliance agency for labour law, namely, NERA. It has a staff of 60 inspectors to ensure compliance with the law and they are fully trained for that purpose. The staff of LEOs are not best placed to deal with the employment law problems in respect of which Deputy Tóibín may have concerns. That is the job of that agency. However, these bodies will be a first-stop-shop for business. We will have the facilitation of job creation for small and start-up companies. We are also dealing with the micro-finance fund. There will be a first point of contact where people can make loan applications and this will encourage enterprise.

We have a compliance agency for labour law and that is its job. There is no point in having duplication. I have stated clearly that we are looking at adherence to the law. All micro or start-up companies start with the intention of creating jobs in the economy. If there are breaches then I am certain NERA can deal with them.

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