Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2005
24 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to publish the report of the review group on the employment rights bodies; the main recommendations in the report; if he intends to implement these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6146/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraMembership of the review group on the functions of the employment rights bodies consisted of representatives of the bodies covered by the review and representatives of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Written submissions were received from various parties, including the social partners and the bodies covered by the review.
The review group made a number of recommendations intended to bring a greater coherence to the workings of the bodies, combined with greater accessibility and improved customer service. These included improved internal processes and common procedures, some possible reconfiguration of fora and measures to bring about legislative restatement and harmonisation of the large corpus of employment rights legislation.
Since receiving the report my Department and I have engaged in a very intensive process of consultations in the context of the report. The key challenge to be faced in formulating the Government's proposals in this area will be to offer a better customer service while reforming procedures and simplifying the overall process, but while not reducing employment rights or undermining the adjudicative independence of the various bodies concerned.
The very intensive consultations to which I have already referred have identified a number of possible approaches that can command a wide degree of consensus among the various interests involved. These are now being considered in the context of the Government's overall perspective on dispute resolution, customer service and the related issue of a competitive and flexible labour market.
It is my intention to be in a position to announce the Government's response to the review group's report and the subsequent consultations within the next few weeks.
In accordance with the undertaking given by the review group, the report will be made available to the parties invited to make submissions to that group and will be published on the Internet, after consideration by Government.
