Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cause of the delay for the introduction of the Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 into the Houses of the Oireachtas; the budget for the National Employment Rights Agency for 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24036/08]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the National Employment Rights Authority will be established on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23956/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 59 together.

The Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 was initiated in Dáil Eireann on 13th March 2008. Since its publication, work has been continuing with regard to clarification of certain legal points, operational arrangements after the enactment of legislation — including in relation to employment permits — and the extent to which particular commitments made in Towards 2016 are provided for in the legislation. The Department has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Office of the Attorney General, with colleagues in other Government Departments and Offices and with Social Partners in this regard. Those discussions are continuing and because Parliamentary time is unlikely to be available this side of the Summer recess, the opportunity will be taken to finalise consideration of the Bill in the context of commitments in Towards 2016, operational issues arising post-enactment and any outstanding legal points.

In the meantime, NERA remains active in the area of workplace inspections and enforcement of existing employment rights legislation. In this regard, the Director has a budget allocation of €10.817 million for 2008 (increased from €8.55 million for 2007). The budget provides for the pay and operational costs of some 141 personnel involved in inspection, enforcement and information provision activities in NERA's Carlow headquarters and in regional offices in Sligo, Dublin, Cork and Shannon. It is intended that the National Employment Rights Authority will be established on a statutory basis one month after the Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 is signed into law by the President.