Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2006
89 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Office for Employment Rights Compliance will be established as outlined in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37763/06]
View answer119 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timetable for the introduction of the new Office of the Director of Employment Rights Compliance; when he intends to introduce the necessary legislation to the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37748/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 119 together.
The Office of the Director for Employment Rights Compliance (ODERC) will be established under primary legislation to be published next year. In the meantime, and as soon as the Director has been appointed and an Advisory Board put in place, I propose to establish this Office on an interim basis.
The Public Appointments Service is managing the recruitment competitions for the positions of Director of, and Legal Advisor and Accountant in, the ODERC. The deadlines for applications for these posts have passed and the associated selection processes will shortly be underway. Arrangements in respect of the filling of other senior management positions within the ODERC are well advanced.
The necessary funding for the Office will be provided in the context of the 2007 Pre-Budget Estimates which will be published this week.
Subject to continued progress on recruitment and other arrangements I hope to be in a position to announce early next year the establishment of the Office on an interim, non-statutory basis. Work has already begun on the preparation of the Employment Rights Compliance Bill which will, among other matters, establish the Office on a statutory basis.
