Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012
256 Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the enforcement power of EPACE; the composition of its governing council; the plans he has to have this State body merged with other similar bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30514/12]
View answerI have no statutory remit concerning this body. EPACE is a non-statutory private limited company comprising employer and trade union representatives from the electrical sector. I understand that the primary objective of EPACE is to advise Electrical Contractors operating in the State of their responsibilities under the Electrical Registered Employment Agreement (REA) and to seek compliance with same.
I am informed that to achieve this objective EPACE carries out inspections of employer's records with a view to verifying compliance with the Electrical Registered Employment Agreement. However being a non-statutory body and having no statutory authority to inspect records, EPACE relies on the co-operation of employers. As EPACE is a non-statutory private limited company I have no function or plans in relation to the company.
