Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to establish a properly resourced labour inspectorate including a substantially increased staff of at least 75 inspectors, increased powers for the inspectorate, provision of proper legal and other professional support for its inspectorate, statutory linkage with the trade union movement and substantially increased penalties for non-compliance with employment rights legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16375/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Following the Minister, Deputy Martin's recent announcement on 12 April, there are now 31 labour inspector posts. The additional inspectors will strengthen the labour inspectorate's capacity to ensure that workers receive their entitlements under employment rights legislation. Arising from paragraph 12.4 of the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress and to assist in the preparation of proposals for consideration by Government, a discussion document was prepared by the labour inspectorate in relation to its mandate and resourcing. This comprehensive discussion document was prepared and circulated to the social partners in January of this year so that their views could be obtained. All the issues raised by the Deputy are considered in the document.

The discussion document covered the full dimension of issues that impact on the operation of the labour inspectorate ranging from the legislative framework right through to the operational aspects and staff development. The discussion document also looked at a range of possibilities around the operation of the labour inspectorate and offered a spectrum of possibilities ranging from a compliance regime where the initiative would move more toward the complainant, with the labour inspectorate offering support, to a model where the right of initiative would be with the labour inspectorate who would conduct a hands-on approach.

The discussion document, which identifies 39 key proposals, is not prescriptive. Rather it seeks to present the arguments for and against an extensive range of issues impacting on the mandate and associated resourcing of the labour inspectorate and its linked business units. In the absence of appropriate analysis no particular model can be endorsed. However, the purpose of their inclusion is primarily to stimulate debate and signal that fundamental changes in approach should be considered. The discussion document has been well received among the social partners with some comments received and others are awaited although initial favourable views have been made known. An interactive phase on the discussion document will get under way shortly whereby the range of choices will be narrowed down and the issues raised by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the review.