Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 22:

In page 30, after line 23, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 1 of Industrial Relations Act 1976

42. Section 1 of the Industrial Relations Act 1976 is amended by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “agriculture”:

“ ‘agriculture’ means—

(a) the production of animals (other than fish), including the production of meat and other animal produce intended for human consumption,

(b) the sorting and packing of meat and other animal produce,

(c) the production, sorting, and packing of crops, including fruit and vegetables, intended for human or animal consumption, and

(d) horticulture, including market gardening, garden nurseries and nursery grounds.”.”.

Amendment No. 22 provides for an amendment to the definition of “Agriculture” in the Industrial Relations Act 1976.

The Industrial Relations Act 1976 provides for the establishment of a joint labour committee, JLC, for agricultural workers. In 2013, the Labour Court undertook a review of the then ten existing JLCs and made recommendations as to whether any JLC should be abolished, maintained in its current form, amalgamated with another JLC or have its establishment order amended. The court recommended it be retained for the agriculture sector with reduced scope to cover only those workers in those parts of an establishment engaged in farming, defined as the production, sorting and packing of animals, animal produce, crops, fruit and vegetables for consumable use and those engaged in horticulture including market gardens, garden nurseries and nursery grounds.

With the exception of the agriculture JLC, implementation of the recommendations regarding the scope of the other JLCs was given effect by way of ministerial order. As the agricultural workers JLC was established under primary legislation, and scope of the JLC is derived from the definition of “agriculture” in section 1 of the 1976 Act, any amendment to the scope of the existing JLC requires an amendment to this definition to reflect the Labour Court recommendation.

Amendment No. 25 amends the original establishment order for the agriculture JLC to reflect the new definition.

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