Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made in the establishment of the Office of the Director of Employment Rights Compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2527/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The new National Employment Rights Authority will be established under primary legislation to be published this year. Work has already begun on the preparation of the Employment Law Compliance Bill. Pending the introduction of that legislation it is our intention to establish the Authority and its Advisory Board on an interim basis.

I am pleased to say that Mr Ger Deering, currently the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, has been selected, by means of a public competition to be the Director of the Authority. Ger Deering will take up his post from 12 February.

The establishment of this Authority was one of the measures agreed by the parties to 'Towards 2016, the Ten-Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement". We want the Authority to be immediately operational and to marshal its resources so as to meet its agreed capabilities within the timeframe envisaged in 'Towards 2016'.

I can confirm that the Government will make available to the Director all staffing and other resource commitments required to deliver the employment rights compliance regime envisaged in that Agreement.