Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 November 2022
54. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the 38 former employees of a facility (details supplied) in Raheen, Limerick, who lost their jobs early in 2021 and who are still fighting to receive their proper redundancy package; if he will intervene to help resolve the issue and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59827/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI extend my sympathies to the former workers in the organisation referenced by the Deputy who have been made redundant. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and for their families.
By law, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible workers. In situations where an employer is genuinely unable to pay statutory redundancy entitlements due to financial difficulties or insolvency, the State provides a safety net and may make the statutory redundancy payments on the employer’s behalf from the Social Insurance Fund.
However, negotiations on enhanced redundancy packages over and above the statutory entitlement are entirely a voluntary matter between employers and workers. The State has no role in this matter.
For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms, that is, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.
Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature. The responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests in the first instance with the employer, the workers and their representatives.
Recommendations arising from the WRC and the Labour Court are not legally binding. While I strongly encourage parties to engage in the industrial relations process in a constructive manner and to comply with any Recommendations arising from this process, the State cannot compel a party to comply with a Labour Court Recommendation.
