Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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171. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by Workplace Relations Commission inspectors since the date of the introduction of the new arrangements and classification of non-EEA fishermen as a result of the recommendations of the task force on non-EEA workers in the Irish fishing fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31054/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Inspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have undertaken 94 inspections to date of vessels which come within the aegis of the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme launched by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) in February this year. I am advised by the Commission that vessel owners and skippers have in general cooperated fully with WRC inspectors. In addition, the WRC completed a programme of ‘Educational’ Inspections in the period following the launch of the Scheme on the 15th February 2016. Over 15 days WRC inspectors made direct contact with 46 vessels owners/skippers in 11 locations and briefed the latter on employment rights and employment permit/permissions requirements.

The workplace relations website (www.workplacerelations.ie) has been updated to include details relating to the Atypical Scheme and employment rights legislation affecting fishing vessel workers generally while the WRC’s Information and Customer Service Centre, based in Carlow, deals with enquiries from vessel owners, skippers and crews in relation to employment rights generally.

The WRC has made itself available to meet with all stakeholders and has to date met with the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland (MRCI), four Fish Producer Organisations and the International Transport Federation (ITF). The WRC is also represented on the Inter-agency Fishing Vessel Risk Profiling and Inspection Group.

The WRC has also participated in Information Events for the Fishing Industry held by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Dublin (18th May, 2016) and Bantry (12th October, 2016) and has undertaken to participate in future similar events. These events provide useful opportunities to engage with the sector on employment rights and employment permits issues.

The Workplace Relations Commission will continue to work with the industry and other enforcement agencies to achieve compliance.