Written answers
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Industrial Disputes
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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237. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the ongoing industrial action at the emergency call answering service in Navan; if he is aware that they have balloted for strike action; if he is aware that a company (details supplied) has refused to attend the hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission; if it is permissible that a company carrying out a State contract can refuse to attend a hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/24]
Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, it is important to emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests in the first instance with the employer, the workers and their representatives.
This dispute is essentially a matter for the company and its employees to resolve. I, as Minister have no role in these matters.
I would urge the parties to come together in an effort to resolve the issues which should hopefully lead to a resolution to the current situation.
For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court are independent offices of my Department. Recommendations arising from the WRC and the Labour Court are not legally binding. Therefore, the State cannot compel a party to comply with a recommendation.
The awarding of State Contracts is a matter for the Office of Government Procurement.
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