Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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463. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware that some State Agencies requiring employees who wish to avail of voluntary redundancy, to sign compromise agreements; the extent to which his Department is aware of the practice; his views that such agreements may present less favourable conditions to signatories than standard or typical redundancy agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32236/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Within the suite of my Department’s Agencies, Enterprise Ireland administered a Voluntary Leaving Programme in early 2015 under which 37 staff availed of voluntary redundancy.On exiting the organisation, staff accepting the offer of Voluntary Redundancy were required to sign an “Acceptance of Offer”, the terms of which reflected typical redundancy agreements. The terms dealt with such matters as return of property to Enterprise Ireland, payment of outstanding monies to Enterprise Ireland, re-employment in the public sector and the standard provision that the sum being paid was in full and final settlement of any claim the signatory may have had against Enterprise Ireland.

The contents of this acceptance document was informed by existing public sector policy in relation to redundancy agreements in the Public Sector (including restrictions on re-employment as per Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012) and on legal advice obtained by Enterprise Ireland which included standard wording to protect the interests of the organisation while offering a scheme that was fair, equitable and in accordance with Irish employment law.

All Enterprise Ireland staff are subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality. The “Acceptance of Offer” also included an acknowledgement by the signatory of this statutory position.