Call for NERA Funds Cut Shows 'Skewed Sense of Priorities'

1 Sep 2010

Congress said today (Sept 01) that a call for a cut in the budget of the National Employment Rights Agency by a Fianna Fail deputy reflected a 'skewed sense of priorities' operating in Government.

The call was made by Fianna Fail TD Frank Fahey, who also claimed that the agency was being 'overzealous' in its enforcement of labour law standards. The National Employment Rights' Authority (NERA) was set up by agreement between Government, employers and unions to police and enforce minimum standards, as laid down in law.

Mr Fahey cited the agency's policing of rules that govern working time.

Congress Legal Affairs Officer Esther Lynch said Mr Fahey's call was made on a day when unemployment climbed to 13.8 percent and it was revealed that taxpayers are pouring €210 million every week into Anglo Irish bank.

"His comments reflect a very poor and skewed sense of priorities on the part of a Government deputy. Is he saying that minimum basic standards are expendable or that working people should get less protection in a recession?

"More importantly, is he asking employment rights inspectors to look the other way?

"Mr Fahey cites the hospitality sector as one where NERA is supposedly 'overzealous'. In fact, this same sector has the worst record for illegality and non-compliance with basic standards. Overall, its compliance rate - employers observing the law - is just 21 percent, the worst in the entire economy. You would think such high levels of illegal behaviour would be of greater concern to a Government deputy.

"Working time is governed by an EU Directive, which was transposed into Irish law in 1993. It is observed and enforced across all member states of the EU.

"Is a Government deputy seriously suggesting that our employment rights authority look the other way while employers break a law that applies across 27 EU member states? I think the Deputy needs to clarify his position on this matter.

"If Deputy Fahey wants to make a positive contribution he could request that Government speed up the passing into law of the Employment Rights' Compliance Bill, published in March 2007 and still not enacted," Ms Lynch concluded.