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

The purpose of codes of practice promulgated by the WRC is to provide general guidance to employers, workers and their representatives in terms of good practice in the workplace. They would be admissible in proceedings before an adjudication officer or the Labour Court. Although they are not enforceable at the direction of the Labour Court or any other body, they would be used as an example of good practice, with which, perhaps, the employer did not co-operate and would therefore stand outside a normal approach. I do not agree that the WRC should take a role in regulating whom people should choose to represent them at hearings. We are not trying to be legalistic or confine it to licensed lawyers but we are trying to make it accessible. We do not see the WRC entering into competence testing, for example, regarding whom people choose to represent them. It is not a proper role to ask the WRC to take on. Therefore, I do not support the amendments.