Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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298. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the consultation with employers that took place before the reinstatement of the employment regulation orders; if a provision has been put in place to offset the negative effect this will have on small contract cleaning companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35959/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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A public consultation process on draft proposals for an Employment Regulation Order for the Contract Cleaning Sector was undertaken in early 2015. Notice of making of the proposals was advertised in national newspapers on March 25^thand observations on the proposals were invited to be submitted by April 15^th. Copies of the draft proposals were available from the Joint Labour Committees Secretariat and were also uploaded on the Workplace Relations Commission website.

The JLC, made up of representatives of the main union in the sector, SIPTU, and the main employer representatives, including the Irish Contract Cleaners Association, considered submissions made and submitted its final proposals to the Labour Court for consideration. In this instance the Labour Court adopted the proposals and sent them to me. Being satisfied that the provisions of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012 were complied with, I signed the Order to effect the proposals on October 1^st2015 - the date that the JLC had indicated in its proposals should be the date that the increased pay rates come into effect.

If enterprises that are covered by EROs are experiencing severe financial difficulties they may apply to the Labour Court for an exemption from their obligation to pay the rates provided for in the ERO for a specified period of time. The criteria relating to such exemptions is provided for in the 2012 Act.