Government Attention on Employment Law Compliance – Jan '07

The Government has commenced appointments to the National Employment Rights Authority to increase the level of monitoring and compliance with employment rights within Ireland.

In January 2007 the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced that Mr Ger Deering, currently the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, has been selected to be the Director of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). Mr Deering will take up his post from 12th February.

The NERA was established as part of the 'Towards 2016' Social Partnership Agreement. The Social Partners recognised that while there was a broad level of compliance with employment rights across the economy, a commitment was required to securing enhanced compliance with employment rights, which would be underpinned by adequate enforcement.

The Minister confirmed that the Government will make available to the Director of the NERA all the staffing and other resources required to deliver the employment compliance regime outlined in ‘Towards 2016’. The Minister wants the NERA to be immediately operational so that it will assemble its resources to enable it to meet its agreed capabilities within the time-frame envisaged in 'Towards 2016'. The Minister stated that it is his intention to establish the NERA and its Advisory Board on an interim basis pending the introduction of legislation on employment rights compliance.