Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
87. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in reorganising the JLC structures with particular reference to the agricultural workers JLC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11110/14]
View answerOn 28 January last, I signed Orders to give effect to recommendations of the Labour Court Review of the ten existing Joint Labour Committees, which I had published in October 2013.
The Orders provide for:
- The abolition of 2 Joint Labour Committees:
- Dublin Hotels
- Law Clerks
- Amendments to the existing Establishment Orders in respect of:
- Contract Cleaning
- Hairdressing
- Hotels (non-Dublin and Cork)
- Security
As the Agricultural Workers JLC was established under primary legislation, effecting the recommendation of the Labour Court Review will require an amendment to primary legislation. In this regard my officials are engaged with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to see how this can be implemented as early as possible.
Legal advice obtained during the drafting of the proposed Order for the Retail Grocery JLC indicated that it would not be appropriate for me to proceed with amending the scope of the Retail Grocery JLC as recommended by the Labour Court. The effect of this is that the existing Establishment Order governing the Retail Grocery sector remains in place.
With regard to the two catering JLCs, I accepted the recommendation that the existing scope and structures remain in place and that one person be appointed to chair both JLCs. Accordingly, it was not necessary for me to make Orders in these instances.
Industrial Relations Officers of the Labour Relations Commission have now been appointed the positions of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of seven JLCs, excluding Agriculture.
It is now a matter for the Labour Court, under the Industrial Relations Act 1946, to ensure that equal numbers of representatives of workers and employers in the relevant sectors are on each of the JLCs.
