Written answers

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Labour Court Recommendations

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the Labour Court recommendation that a company (details supplied) pay enhanced redundancy to seven Dublin-based workers; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that the company has refused to implement the Labour Court recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46382/17]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, rests primarily with the employer, the workers and their representatives.  As Minister, I encourage full participation by all parties involved in an industrial dispute to come to the best possible accommodation and to seek a resolution of the issues at workplace level.

The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences. In this context, the Labour Court operates as an independent adjudicative body carrying out statutory functions designated to the Court under relevant law.

The Deputy refers to a Labour Court Recommendation made under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2015 which Recommendation has been published on the website of the Workplace Relations Commission at www.workplacerelations.ie.

I understand that the Court's Recommendation followed a referral to the Court under Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969. I understand also that while referrals under that Section of the Act requires the referring party to agree to be bound by the Court’s Recommendation, there is no obligation on the other party to be bound by, or to accept, the Recommendation.

As an independent adjudicative body, the Labour Court has discharged its statutory function in this matter and as Minister, I have no function in relation to this issue.

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