Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the options available to workers of a company (details supplied). [23441/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies.

These obligations include engaging in an information and consultation process of at least 30 days with employees’ representatives, and to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place. Employers may not issue notices of redundancy during this 30-day consultation period. I understand that the consultation process in this instance concluded on 5^thMay.

The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms i.e., the WRC and the Labour Court to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences. The WRC and Labour Court are independent statutory bodies. As such, I have no direct involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Labour Court or scheduling of hearings.

I understand that a Labour Court hearing is scheduled for this week. However, I must reiterate that the Labour Court is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister I must respect this independence and I cannot intervene in this matter.