Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2007
20 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the data recording and analysis system in operation in the Labour Inspectorate, including the specific types and level of data collected, the records kept of employers found in breach of employment legislation, the analyses carried out, and the results that have been generated therefrom. [15610/07]
View answerThe data recording and analysis system for recording case information within the Labour Inspectorate is known as RECONCILE. This system captures data and information inputted by Labour Inspectors arising from inspections into compliance with certain employment rights legislation and manages case workflow in terms of production of standard documentation and the logging of communications and contacts.
The system holds a database of breaches under the legislation in which the Inspectorate has an interest and relevant employer and employee information relating to such breaches. Information stored and tracked as part of a case includes employer names, trading names, legal entity names, addresses, business sector details, trading status, employees names and Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers, any breaches examined and detected during the inspection, the legislation under which the inspection was carried out, the amount of arrears owed, the case outcome and details of communications and contacts with employers, employees and other parties connected to the case.
Insofar as analysis is concerned the system generates a number of standard reports to facilitate case management and workflow, management reporting and, in the case of initiation of prosecutions, referral to the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
The RECONCILE system is currently being reviewed to examine that its functionality and capabilities, insofar as the requirements of the enhanced Labour Inspectorate and, in due course, the new employment rights compliance model, are being met.
Finally, certain records and data collected during the course of inspections, which do not lend themselves to inputting and/or scanning to the case management system, are held separately on individual case files.
