Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the social partners or employment policy experts were consulted before the decision was made to transfer labour affairs functions in her Department to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; if her officials carried out an impact assessment of the transfer of functions; and if so, if she will publish same. [48822/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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From time to time responsibilities transfer between Departments in order to better align functions and policy. In moving the employment rights and minimum wage agendas to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP), we are effectively aligning employee based rights with the welfare to work agenda, focusing on ensuring that our policies encourage people into the workforce with fair terms and conditions. DEASP also has responsibility for INTREO, the national contact point for employment and income supports, as well as acting as a pathway to employment for many job seekers.

It is not usual to consult externally when it comes to the realignment of functional responsibilities between Government Departments.