Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will publish the workplace relations Bill before the Dáil Éireann summer 2014 recess. [31306/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the ongoing programme which I have initiated to reform the State’s employment rights and industrial relations structures is at an advanced stage. This reform programme will result in the establishment of a new two-tier Workplace Relations structure comprising two statutorily independent bodies replacing the current five. We will have a new single body of first instance to be called the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and a separate appeals body, which will effectively be an expanded Labour Court.

My objective is to deliver a world-class workplace relations service which is simple to use, independent, effective, impartial, cost effective and provides for workable means of redress and enforcement, within a reasonable period of time.

While considerable progress has been achieved to date on an administrative basis, completing the proposed reform requires the enactment of detailed legislation in order to provide the statutory basis for the new structures and processes. The Government approved the text of the Workplace Relations Bill at its meeting on 8th July, 2014 subject to completion of some technical or drafting amendments. My intention is to publish the Bill as soon as these technical drafting amendments are completed with a view to having the new structures in place in 2014.