Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to address the problems caused by the collapse of registered employment agreements covering the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42384/14]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to publish forward legislation which will allow for registered employment agreements to take effect again; if his attention has been drawn to the damage the absence of an REA is having on the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42389/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

I am aware that the striking down of the Registered Employment Agreement system by the Supreme Court in 2013 has resulted in an element of uncertainty in relation to pay and other conditions of employment in those sectors previously covered, including the Construction sector.

That is why, having considered the legal advice from the Attorney General on the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, and given the importance of the issue for employers and their employees, particularly in relation to rates of pay and tendering for contracts, the Government has approved the drafting of legislation to address the ruling and to provide for a revised legislative framework that would be fully informed by the Supreme Court judgment and be expected, to the greatest extent possible, to withstand constitutional challenge in the future.

Good progress is being made on the preparation of the legislation. The Draft Heads of the Bill and accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis have been published and my colleague, Super Junior Minister for Business and Employment at the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation (Mr. Ged Nash TD), will be bringing the Government's proposals to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for pre-legislative scrutiny on 11 November next.