John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is not a legal obligation on companies to comply with Labour Court recommendations. [24561/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Labour Court operates as an industrial relations tribunal, hearing both sides in a trade dispute. It then issues recommendations setting out its opinion on the dispute and the terms on which it considers the dispute should be settled. Labour Court recommendations for the resolution of trade disputes are not legally binding. However, as the Labour Court is a court of last resort in the industrial relations process, it is expected that the parties come to that process in good faith and consequently are prepared to accept the outcome of the process, namely the Labour Court recommendation. Responsibility for the settlement of a dispute ultimately rests with the parties themselves.