Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

105 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is intended to introduce the promised amendments to the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001, as promised in Sustaining Progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18483/03]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

119 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposed amending legislation and developments in statutory codes it is intended to bring forward to enhance the procedures by which trade unions can represent their members' interests arising from the recent pay talks with unions and employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18471/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 119 together.

Procedures to resolve industrial disputes in situations where collective bargaining arrangements are not in place were considered by a high level group established under Partnership 2000. The group comprised representatives from IBEC, the ICTU and various Departments and agencies and was chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. It recommended a voluntary set of procedures and an amendment to the Industrial Relations Act 1946 to provide a new dispute settling power for the Labour Court. These recommendations were implemented through Statutory Instrument No. 145 of 2000 – the Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Voluntary Dispute Resolution) (Declaration) Order 2000 – and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001.

During the negotiations between the Government and the social partners on the new partnership programme, Sustaining Progress, the need to enhance the effectiveness of these procedures was agreed.

A number of measures, which will result in significant improvements to the existing procedures, will be put in place. These measures include the introduction of an overall timeframe targeting 26 weeks for processing cases under the code and the Act, with provision for a maximum of 34 weeks, where necessary. Effect will be given to these measures through amendments to the code and to the Act.

Formal consultations with trade union and employer representatives, as provided for in Sustaining Progress, were held during the five weeks following ratification of the agreement. The Labour Relations Commission has been requested to draft an amended code of practice on voluntary dispute resolution and a new anti-victimisation code provided for in the agreement. The commission is involved in consultations with trade union and employer representatives on the drafting of the codes.

As regards the amendment of the legislation, the Government has today approved the publication of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2003 and I expect to be in a position to publish the Bill in the next few days.