Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2022
1. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the annual cost of the operation of the Labour Court in both capital and current expenditure for each year since its establishment; the current number of employees of the Court including judges; and the grades of these staff. [31176/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am interpreting the Deputy’s question as seeking the operational costs and staffing detail of the Labour Court since its role and functions were expanded in 2015.
The Labour Court is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The Court was first established under the Industrial Relations Act, 1946. However, the functions of the Court have been altered and extended by subsequent legislation including the Workplace Relations Act 2015 which provided for the most profound changes since the 1946 Act. With the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, the Labour Court holds sole appellate jurisdiction in all disputes arising under employment rights enactments. This sole appellate role is in addition to those functions held by the Court under the Industrial Relations Acts prior to the enactment of the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
The Labour Court is funded under my Department’s Vote. Table 1 sets out the annual cost of the operation of the Labour Court for the period 2015 to 2021. There are no capital costs associated with the operation of the Court.
The adjudicative composition of the Labour Court consists of a Chairman, four Deputy Chairmen and eight Ordinary Members. The Labour Court also has a legal adviser known as the Registrar. In addition, administrative support of the Court is provided by civil servants who are staff of my Department. Table 2 sets out details of the Court and staff of the Labour Court from 2015 to date.
