asked the Minister for Labour the average length of time it takes for a case to be heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal established under the Unfair Dismissals Act; and approximately how long it takes for a decision to be given in such cases after the case has been finally heard and disposed of by the Tribunal.
Written Answers. - Employment Appeals Tribunal.
541.
I understand that there has been an average delay of about four months before a case has been heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal and that the time taken to issue a decision after the hearing has been completed is normally two weeks. Delay arises in issuing decisions in certain cases where information is not complete and the tribunal requires additional information before an order can be formulated and perfected.
542.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of cases which were heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal in each of the last three years and adjourned during the course of the hearing and which have gone into hearing for a period longer than one day; and the length of time it has taken the hearing of each such case to be concluded.
The information is in the attached tabular statement:
Statement of Adjourned Hearings of Cases before Employment Appeals Tribunal
|
Year |
Total Number of Cases Adjourned for Further Hearing (1) (2) |
Number of Claims Adjourned to Further Day/Days |
||||||||
|
1 day |
2 days |
3 days |
4 days |
5 days |
7 days |
8 days |
12 days |
33 days |
||
|
1979 |
77 |
58 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
1980 |
276(3) |
116 |
149 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
— |
1 |
1 |
— |
|
1981 |
68 |
39 |
18 |
8 |
— |
— |
2 |
— |
— |
1 |
|
Total |
421 |
213 |
181 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Notes
(1) These cases all relate to claims under the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977. Cases under other Acts dealt with by the tribunal do not normally last beyond one day's hearing but are sometimes linked with unfair dismissals claims which may be prolonged.
(2) The figures do not include cases which are re-entered because of the failure for good reasons of a party to attend.
(3) The 1980 figures include a number of bulk appeals against the same employers.