Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
363. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention or that of Sport Ireland has been drawn to continuing challenges in respect of staff and the recruitment process of same in the context of terms and conditions at an organisation (details supplied); and if she and or Sport Ireland are in a position to intervene and or mediate. [21728/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent media reports relating to the issues mentioned by the Deputy. These are matters for the organisation itself as an employer. I have no role in relation to these matters and it would not be appropriate for me or Sport Ireland to intervene.
Furthermore, I note that issues have now been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission and I consider that to be the most appropriate statutory body to deal with the issues raised, in accordance with its statutory responsibilities.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between the Government and the organisation in January 2020 provides that the organisation commits to protect all low to middle-income earners employed at the organisation from compulsory redundancy for a period of 18 months, albeit this overriding principle should not constrain any essential restructuring within the organisation, but is envisaged only in exceptional circumstances. The organisation has confirmed to Sport Ireland that there have been no compulsory redundancies as part of its restructuring process.
In accordance with the MOU, the board of the organisation has established an Executive Performance and Remuneration Committee to support it in its responsibilities for, inter alia, determining executive remuneration policy and the pay and benefits policy for staff. As agreed in the MOU, two of the members of the committee are independent directors, one of whom is chair of the committee.
The organisation has confirmed to Sport Ireland that the Executive Performance and Remuneration Committee conducted a thorough review of executive remuneration in 2020.
