Finian McGrath
Question:217. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding school secretaries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28125/14]
View answerTuesday, 1 July 2014
Questions (217)
Written answers
In the absence of any specific details as to the names of the parties in this case I am not in a position to provide any information in relation to the date of any hearing or for the issue of any determination. A search of the EAT’s decision database may be carried out online at www.workplacerelations.ie.
In the circumstances, I can only again give you the normal expected times taken for the issue of a determination in the average case. Once a case has had a final hearing before the Tribunal, a determination issues to the parties as soon as possible thereafter. The average time taken for Tribunal determinations to be finalised is 6 weeks, plus up to a further 2 weeks for the determination to issue to the parties involved. However in a small number of very complex cases, which require more detailed examination and review of relevant case law, the time taken for issue of determination may be considerably longer.
The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. I am informed that once a determination of the Tribunal has been communicated to the parties concerned, the Tribunal then becomes functus officio and has no further function in the matter. As an independent body, the Tribunal is answerable to the Higher Courts by way of Appeal or Judicial Review in its function, decisions and the manner in which it conducts itself.