Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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183. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the fact that a company (details supplied) is ignoring recommendations of the Labour Court; and the way in which she plans to respond to same. [22757/19]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the ongoing industrial relations issues at the company referred to by the Deputy. I am also aware that the Labour Court issued a recommendation on the 5^thApril 2019 in relation to a claim before it, with the Court noting that this issue has already been before it, resulting in previous recommendations.

Ireland’s system of industrial relations is based in voluntarism and it has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to support the development of an institutional framework supportive of this voluntary system through which good industrial relations can prosper. In line with the voluntary nature of industrial relations in Ireland, recommendations of the Labour Court made under industrial relations legislation are not binding on the parties although it is expected that the parties involved give serious consideration to the Court’s Recommendation.

The Labour Court is an independent statutory body and discharge their functions independently of the Minister, therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.

I would urge both sides to engage constructively with each other and to remain engaged with the State's industrial relations machinery in order to resolve the issues in dispute.