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Trade Unions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2023

Thursday, 11 May 2023

Questions (110)

Pauline Tully

Question:

110. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to hold a meeting with a union (details supplied) to discuss the unacceptable treatment of employees of an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22171/23]

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Written answers

I extend my sympathies to the former workers of Rehab who have been made redundant. I fully appreciate that this is a vulnerable cohort of the workforce and how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families.

At the time of the job losses concerned, dedicated staff in the Department of Social Protection worked directly with the employees to ensure they received their entitlements and other supports swiftly in order to avoid any further distress.

By law, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible workers. In situations where an employer is genuinely unable to pay statutory redundancy entitlements due to financial difficulties or insolvency, the State provides a safety net and may make the statutory redundancy payments on the employer’s behalf from the Social Insurance Fund.

However, negotiations on enhanced redundancy packages over and above the statutory entitlement are entirely a matter between employers and workers representatives. The Government does not have a role in such negotiations and as Minister I cannot intervene in this matter.

Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature. The Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court are independent offices and recommendations arising from the WRC and the Labour Court are not legally binding. .

While the Government cannot compel any party to comply with a Labour Court Recommendation, I want to emphasise that I strongly encourage parties to engage in the industrial relations process in a constructive manner and to comply where possible with any recommendations arising from this process.

I urge all parties to respect the industrial relations mechanism of the State, which works extremely well and effectively in most cases.

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