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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 4

Written Answers. - Employment Legislation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

29 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will give details of labour or employment legislation introduced in the past five years; the legislation introduced to comply with EU Directives in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2203/94]

My Department has introduced a range of labour-employment legislation in the past five years, some of which was enacted to comply with EU Directives. There are four Acts covering employment rights — the Payment of Wages Act, 1991, the Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991, the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act, 1993, and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994. For the benefit of the House, I am circulating details of this legislation.

In the industrial relations area, my Department introduced the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. This Act provided for the establishment of the Labour Relations Commission and put in place a number of other measures to improve the framework for the conduct of industrial relations. It also amended the laws relating to trade unions.

As regards occupational safety and health matters, details of all legislation introduced in this area in the past five years are given in the Annual Reports of the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health for the years 1990-93 inclusive. In addition, three sets of regulations have been implemented during 1994 and details of these follow.

Details of Legislation
Employment Rights
In the employment rights area, the following individual Acts were introduced:
— the Payment of Wages Act, 1991, which established a range of rights for all employees relating to the payment of wages;
— the Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991, which extended the benefits of a range of protective legislation to regular part-time employees;
— the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Act, 1993, which introduced certain technical and other changes to the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977 and
— the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994, which requires employers to provide to employees a written statement of the terms of employment and any changes in those terms of employment. This Act was introduced to give effect to the provisions of Council Directive 91/533/EEC on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship.
Occupational Safety and Health
— European Communities (Classification, Packaging, Labelling and Notification of Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 77 of 1994).
These regulations which came into effect on 7 April 1994 implement Council Directive 92/32/EEC of 30 April 1992, amending for the seventh time Directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances, together with seven other associated Commission Directives which adapt to technical progress the Annexes to, or which expand some of the provisions of, Council Directive 67/548/EEC.
— European Communities Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Marketing and Use) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 79 of 1994).
These regulations which came into effect on 6 April 1994 implement the requirements imposed in relation to the marketing and use of dangerous substances and preparations by EC Directives 89/677/EEC, 91/157/EEC, 91/173/EEC, 91/338/EEC, 91/339/EEC and 91/659/EEC which amend Council Directive 76/769/EEC. The regulations also consolidate into a single text seven existing sets of regulations which previously gave effect to the first seven amendments to that Directive.
— Safety, Health and Welfare at Work, (Biological Agents) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. 146 of 1994).
These regulations which came into effect on 23 May 1994 implement Council Directives 90/679/EEC of 26 November 1990 — seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC — and 93/88/EEC of 12 October 1993 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work.
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