Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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679. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the refusal of her Department to allow University College Cork to sanction payments due to employees of Tyndall Institute, Cork (details supplied); and if she will allow University College, Cork to implement the 2009 Labour Court recommendation relating to these employees. [34479/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I understand from my officials that there is ongoing engagement on this matter between University management and trade union representatives. I also understand that the parties are being supported in their endeavors by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to become involved in the matter.

The WRC works to bring the relevant parties together in order to resolve industrial relations matters and to encourage the use of the industrial relations mechanisms available and I am supportive of this work.

Where disputes exist, Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) are encouraged to use these industrial relation mechanisms to find a resolution. HEIs are autonomous and it is important that I recognise that, and the industrial relations machinery in place.