Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 to 560, inclusive, together.

There is a robust suite of employment rights legislation in place providing protection for employees, including legislation governing working time and pay. This includes the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2014, National Minimum Wage Act 2000, the Payment of Wages Act 1991, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2001, the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001, the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 and the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012.

I understand the dispute at issue relates to the proposed redundancy of a number of staff members due to restructuring of the organisation. I would like to assure the Deputy that the State’s industrial relations machinery continues to be available to assist in the resolution of this dispute and I would urge the parties to engage with them in order to resolve their differences in this instance. Even what often appears to be the most intractable of disputes is capable of resolution where both sides engage constructively and in good faith in this voluntary process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides in a dispute make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to arrive at a conclusion that is satisfactory to all concerned.

Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, whether in redundancy or other collective disputes, rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives. The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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561. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is aware of the dispute at the Garda Síochána Training College in Templemore, County Tipperary where contract cleaners have been brought in without consultation with the Mandate trade union which represents permanent workers employed by the Office of Public Works and without the latter being given the opportunity to work overtime; that numerous health and safety concerns have been raised with management to no avail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17249/16]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Issues relating to employees of the Office of Public Works and their terms and conditions of employment are a matter for my colleague, Pascal Donohoe TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Issues relating to the tendering of public contracts are also outside my remit and should be addressed to the Office of Public Procurement which operates as an office of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Lansdowne Road Agreement provides for issues that may arise around out sourcing. That agreement provides (par 3.3.5) that where any dispute arises the parties shall seek to resolve any matter through direct dialogue and if this fails the dispute resolution mechanisms set out in paragraph 4 and 6 of the Agreement will be used.

As regards any health and safety concerns in a workplace, a complaint may be made to the HSA Workplace Contact Unit, Health and Safety Authority, Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1 (email: , Telephone: 1890 289 389).

I would urge any parties to a dispute to avail of the dispute resolution mechanisms available to them.