Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 162: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals for the implementation of the report of the review group on the employment rights bodies; if the chair of the Employment Appeals Tribunal has expressed concern regarding the impact of proposed changes in the role of that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25425/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In response to the recommendations of the employment rights review group and following a process of extensive consultations with interested parties, a programme of action was agreed by Government, in May of this year, which will facilitate the simplification of procedures and provide ease of access for all users of the services of the employment rights bodies.

In the course of the consultation process it was found that there was a considerable degree of consensus on the way forward in relation to most of the recommendations of the review group. However, the requisite degree of consensus did not exist for the recommendation of the review group that the Labour Court and EAT should be amalgamated. The Government decided that the EAT should continue as a stand alone body but that all cases which are currently heard in the EAT on a first instance basis would instead be referred to the rights commissioner service of the Labour Relations Commission, in the first instance. This will mean that the EAT will become an exclusively appellate body.

Following the Government decision, an employment rights group comprising representatives of a small number of Departments, the social partners and the employment rights bodies has been established. This group is to consider the operational implications of implementing the terms of the Government decision. The ERG first met in June and the chairman of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and all other members of the group are participating fully in its deliberations which include consideration of the new role for the EAT. It is considered that the work of the ERG is likely to take about 18 months. This issue was raised by Deputy Hogan and responded to on 31 May 2005.