Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
529. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, inspectors in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of these that were unannounced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35914/18]
View answer530. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of convictions and prosecutions obtained by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35915/18]
View answer531. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number and amount of fines imposed by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35916/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 529 to 531, inclusive, together.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s core functions include adjudicating on complaints under employment rights, equality and industrial relations legislation, carrying out inspections of employer records in relation to employment rights compliance, and the provision of mediation, conciliation and advisory services.
Table 1 sets out the number of inspections that were undertaken by the WRC in 2016, 2017, and to date in 2018, including the number of unannounced inspections:
|
Table 1: Year |
Total Inspections |
Unannounced Inspections |
|
2016 |
4,830 |
2,877 |
|
2017 |
4,747 |
2,741 |
|
2018 (to 31 July) |
3,351 |
2,207 |
Table 2 sets out the number of convictions and prosecutions obtained by the WRC in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018;
|
Table 2: Year |
Prosecutions |
Convictions |
|
2016 |
138 |
85 |
|
2017 |
126 |
94 |
|
2018 (to 31 July) |
40 |
21 |
The reference in the Deputy's question to "fines imposed by the WRC" is taken to mean the number of Fixed Payment Notices issued by the WRC under Section 36 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015. Table 3 sets out the number and amount of such notices issued by the WRC in 2016, 2017, and to date in 2018.
|
Table 3: Year |
Cases where Fixed Payment Notices were imposed by WRC |
Total amount imposed by WRC |
|
2016 |
19 |
€28,500 |
|
2017 |
29 |
€43,500 |
|
2018 (to 31 July) |
15 |
€22,500 |
