Joint Labour Committees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024

Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Questions (244)

Bríd Smith

Question:

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify when he expects to sign the next Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order, JLC ERO, into law; if he will report on his meeting with the JLC ERO body on 26 January 2024 to go through submission in the WRC; and if he accepts that six months have now elapsed since the signing of the last JLC ERO on 4 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are independent in their functions.   If a JLC adopts proposals for an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for a sector, it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals.  If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy is presented to me and, if I consider it appropriate to do so, I will make an ERO giving effect to the proposals.

The most recent ERO, which was for the Security Sector, came into force on 4th September 2023.  I have not to date received a proposal from the Labour Court in relation to any other ERO. 

I have not attended a meeting with a JLC and do not plan to do so in the future.