asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to a recent statement by the Minister for Industry and Commerce that a serious attempt is being made to eliminate or simplify laws and regulations which have developed over recent years which are proving to be an administrative burden on business and industry generally; the laws or regulations for which his Department are responsible which are regarded as an administrative burden on business or industry; and the steps which have been taken to date to eliminate or simplify these laws.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Law.
34.
My Cabinet colleagues and I are reviewing the statutory and information requirements of our Departments and the bodies under their aegis which impact on business and industry. As far as it concerns my Department, when I have identified the scope for action, including simplification or abolition of requirements, I will make a further announcement. In the meantime I can assure the Deputy that through such steps as wide discussion — as exemplified by the recent discussion document — the production of straightforward non-technical guides to labour legislation and the operation of a free information services, I am attempting to balance the maintenance of a floor of social rights and the reduction of burdens on industry and commerce.
Has the Minister asked his colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, if he had in mind any legislation administered by his Department? Specifically, was he talking about some of the protective legislation such as that dealing with unfair dismissal?
At present every Department is reviewing all their legislation, which cover rules, regulations and orders, that would affect employment or that would be obstacles towards business.
Is the Minister aware that it has been calculated by the FUE that someone wishing to establish in business here would require familiarity with more than 30 statutes? If it is, how many statutes, if any, have been simplified since the Minister took office?
I do not know the figure. In regard to the simplication of legislation under the Department of Labour, it has been said there are far too many statutes which are unduly complicated. Recently we published a guide to labour law which provides in a straightforward and nontechnical manner short descriptions of the more significant legislation concerning industrial relations and employment protection legislation.
As regards the FUE comments, I have heard that said several times. The Deputy will be aware of the survey commissioned by the Department which proved that many of the things said were myths.
The Minister will be aware of the fairly widely held view that there is a need for deregulation in the labour market and that that deregulation would bring with it the prospect of enhanced employment opportunities. Would the Minister, as Minister for Labour, take on the responsibility of trying to agree a core of rights with the social partners to which everyone could assent and which would be outside the scope of any such review? It should be possible to achieve agreement on things like safety.
The Programme for National Recovery spelt out a number of areas, including that mentioned by the Deputy, where there would be a consensus. If there are areas where it can be proved that the regulations were not required and were not taking away anybody's rights, the Department of Labour would have to take into account the fact that removing an obstacle for an employer might mean removing a right for an employee. The Department of Labour have an information section which produced a number of guides for legislation, annual reports and so on. These documents will make it simpler for the general public to get information. A discussion document was published on the equality legislation and unfair dismissals legislation last year and we continue to review the submissions of the employer organisations.
The Minister referred to the discussion document on unfair dismissals, equality and payment of wages. I am glad to see he had his way in regard to the £10 cheques at the end of the day.
As a result of pressure from the Deputy.
Thank you, Minister, for your gracious acknowledgement. Those three items formed the basis of a discussion document. Can the Minister indicate when he will be able to form a view on the submissions he has received and take a definite decision as to legislation in each instance?
I hope to make a decision at an early date in connection with the payment of wages since we have received the submissions from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Federated Union of Employers. As regards the other legislation, I am still awaiting some submissions and I hope to have them after 10 May. As I said, the first decision will be made on the payment of wages, then we will continue the review on equality and unfair dismissals.