Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that there are sufficient deterrents in place for breach of employment laws beyond payment of arrears; if those punishments are being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4153/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under "Towards 2016, The Ten year Framework Social Partnership Agreement", the Government is committed to delivering a key package of measures dealing with employment rights. This package will be set out in the Employment Law Compliance Bill which will be published shortly. Included in the package will be substantially increased penalties for breaches of employment laws.

Already, the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) has been set up on an interim basis and is in full operation from its headquarters in Carlow. All senior management is in place. NERA Inspection Services and Information Services are operating out of the NERA headquarters in Carlow with regional Inspection Services offices in Shannon (temporary accommodation), Cork and Dublin. Accommodation for the Sligo regional office has been selected.

The number of Inspectors dealing with breaches of employment laws is being increased from 31 to 90. These measures together with the enactment of the new legislation will ensure that we have a comprehensive set of deterrents against breaches of employment law.