Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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766. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority examining conditions for individual employees in their workplaces for each year from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; if she has satisfied herself that employees are fully protected; if an adequate inspection regime is in place in respect of each matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18179/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1 October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC assumes the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal, the Labour Relations Commission and the first-instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Inspectors of the WRC carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights and employment permits legislation. These inspections arise:

- In response to complaints received of alleged non-compliance with relevant employment rights legislation;

- As part of compliance campaigns which focus on compliance in specific sectors or specific pieces of legislation, or

- As routine inspections, which act as a control measure.

The aim is to achieve voluntary compliance with employment law through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and enforcement where necessary.  While every effort is made to secure compliance, some employers either refuse or fail to rectify the breaches identified and/or pay money due to their employees.  These cases are referred for prosecution.

Details in relation to the number of inspections carried out by WRC Inspectors for each year from 2013 to 2016 and to 31 March 2017 are provided in the table below.