Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
408. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will complete the revision of The Code of Practice: Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, S.I. No. 146 of 2000, under the Industrial Relations Act 1990, to take into consideration the small owner-managed business as stated in the Blueprint to Deliver a World-Class Workplace Relations Service of April 2012. [34404/14]
View answerThe initial consultation that I undertook in relation to my proposals to reform the State’s employment rights and industrial relations structures was completed in September 2011. The many positive suggestions that emerged from that process influenced the proposals set out in the Blueprint to Deliver a World-Class Workplace Relations Service (Blueprint) which I published in April 2012.
During this consultation process many respondents’ acknowledged the existence of S.I. No. 146 of 2000, The Code of Practice: Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures and the view was expressed that its benefits should be strengthened to take into consideration the small owner-managed business. The Blueprint acknowledged that the Code should be looked at again, in the context of the reform programme which has delivered already substantial efficiencies and improvements for small business in terms of their interactions with the bodies including the provision of advice and early resolution of disputes.
Since the publication of the Blueprint, the publication of the Workplace Relations Bill has brought clarity with regard to the transfer of functions which are currently vested in the Labour Relations Commission.
The functions of the soon to be established Workplace Relations Commission will include the review and preparation, in consultation with the social partners, of current and perhaps new codes of practice relevant to industrial relations including that given effect under S. I. No. 146 of 2000.
