Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 154: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on 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. [8331/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government is committed to delivering the key package of measures agreed under the Employment Rights and Compliance Chapter of Towards 2016 and in this regard substantial progress has already been made. The Office of the Director of Employment Rights Compliance now to be known as the National Employment Rights Authority has been established on an interim basis. The Director of NERA has been appointed and has taken up duty on 12 February 2007. The Director will be supported in his role by a management team and I am informed that most of the team members are already in place. The remaining management and administrative staff are being transferred to NERA on the basis of agreed decentralization arrangements.

The new regional structure and the new locations of the Labour Inspectorate, now operating under the direction of NERA, have been announced and the resources necessary for the increase in the number of Labour Inspectors have been approved. The necessary arrangements and selection processes for Inspectorate recruitment are being progressed with a view to all assignments being made by end of 2007.

Work on the preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to the comprehensive package of measures concerning employment rights is being progressed as a matter of urgency. Preparation of the Employment Law Compliance Bill is well advanced and the Minister is committed to publish the Bill in 2007.