Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All Members acknowledge that a redundancy situation in any workplace is difficult for workers and their families. However, we are fortunate to have an industrial relations system whereby the fundamental approach of successive Governments has been one of voluntarism. In general, our laws do not try to impose a solution on parties to a trade dispute but, rather, are designed to help support the parties in resolving their differences. The State has largely confined its role to underpinning voluntarism through the provision of a framework and institutions through which good industrial relations can prosper.

The recommendation in the Capita case was made under section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act and, as such, is only binding on the referring party, which is the union. It is important to point out that the company is not breaking any law by not recognising the recommendation of the Labour Court for more favourable redundancy terms.

See this speech in context