Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These amendments are intended to allow the Minister to make a temporary appointment to the office of deputy chairman of the Labour Court to fulfil a temporary vacancy that may arise in circumstances in that office. Such a vacancy may occur, for example, where an incumbent deputy chairperson is unable to perform his or her duties for a period, or dies or is removed from office. This is a provision to allow hearings to continue while the Public Appointments Service, PAS, convenes in accordance with the procedure for appointment. It will to allow covering for a stop-gap requirement of that nature.

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