Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views in relation to a letter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9786/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have noted the contents of the letter referred to in the Deputy's question. I understand that statutory redundancy entitlements have been paid to the workers in the factory named in the letter. Additional ex gratia payments are a matter for negotiation between the company concerned and the workers.

The State has established a number of institutions, including the Labour Court, to assist in the resolution of trade disputes between employers and workers such as the ongoing dispute in this case. The Labour Court conducts hearings on trade disputes and then issues recommendations setting out its opinion on the dispute and the terms on which it should be settled. However, the system of industrial relations in Ireland is essentially voluntary in nature. The law on industrial relations disputes does not generally seek to impose a solution on the parties to a dispute but rather seeks to assist them in arriving at a solution. The Labour Court cannot compel a company to comply with its recommendations. As it is a Court of last resort in the industrial relations process, it is expected that the parties come to the process in good faith and consequently are prepared to give serious consideration to the Court's recommendations.

Recommendations of the Labour Court are not legally binding, however, and ultimately, responsibility for the settlement of a trade dispute rests with the parties to the dispute.