Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are 200 staff in the WRC. The number of inspectors currently sanctioned is 60. Ninety is an old figure that predates the reform of the five bodies. We merged five into two, thereby reducing some of the requirements for staff. That is not to say we will not go above 60 but the figure of 90 is no longer one we recognise.

To return to what I was saying about the meat plants, I followed up on this and wrote to the Director General about it. I was assured that the commission was going to continue to carry out inspections in this regard. As we move out of Covid, we will be able to reduce the number of Covid inspections and increase the number of regular labour law enforcement inspections, which will be beneficial.

Inspectors visit places of employment and carry out investigations on behalf of the WRC to ensure compliance with equality and employment-related legislation. An additional five labour inspectors were appointed in February of this year on foot of the competition.

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