Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
45 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she intends to bring forward the promised amendments to legislation to provide for increased penalties for breaches of industrial relations law and especially for breaching the terms of registered building agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8070/04]
View answerDuring the passage through the Oireachtas of the Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003, I brought forward an amendment to the First Schedule of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. This amendment, which received all-party support, will increase the maximum fines that can, upon summary conviction, be imposed by the courts for breaches of registered employment agreements. Under this amendment, the maximum fine that may be imposed by the courts on a person who has failed to carry out an order of the Labour Court regarding registered employment agreements will increase from €1,269.70 to €3,000. In the case of a continuing offence, such a person shall be liable for a further fine of up to €1,000 — increasing from €253.94 — for every day during which the offence is continued. The Bill has now passed all Stages in the Oireachtas.
