Thomas Gould
Question:48. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of legislation to allow Workplace Relations Commission proceedings to take place in public. [30224/21]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2021
48. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of legislation to allow Workplace Relations Commission proceedings to take place in public. [30224/21]
View answerThe urgency to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and other acts that make provision for investigations in the Workplace Relations Commission is a result of a Supreme Court ruling and the consequential Orders which resulted in the current statutory framework being declared inconsistent with the Constitution. The Orders concern public hearings and the necessity have a statutory power to administer an oath or affirmation with an associated penalty for giving false evidence.
The Government approved priority drafting and authorised the seeking of a waiver of pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 19 April 2021.
A drafter was appointed on 20 April 2021 and the Joint Committee granted its waiver on 5 May 2021. It is expected that the Government will approve the Publication of the Bill shortly.