Page 10 - Workplace Relations Guide to Employment Law

The Department also administers the The Commission’s core services include the
Employment Permits system which facilitates inspection of employment rights compliance,
enterprises to access talent from overseas the provision of information, the processing
that is in short supply in the State. The suite of employment agency and protection of
of supporting regulations ensures that the young persons (employment) licences and
system remains attuned to the changing the provision of mediation, conciliation,
labour market and enterprise environment. facilitation and advisory services.

The Commission has a board consisting
The Workplace Relations of a chairperson and 8 ordinary members
Commission appointed by the Minister for Business,
Enterprise and Innovation.
The Workplace Relations Commission
(WRC) has responsibility for
4 promoting the improvement of The Labour Court
workplace relations, and maintenance
of good workplace relations, The Labour Court, established under the
Industrial Relations Act 1946, provides a
4 promoting and encouraging comprehensive service for the resolution
compliance with relevant enactments, of disputes about industrial relations
4 providing guidance in relation to and has sole appellate jurisdiction in all
compliance with codes of practice disputes arising under employment rights
approved under Section 20 of the enactments. The Court’s functions can be
Workplace Relations Act 2015, divided between those relating to industrial
relations matters and those relating to
4 conducting reviews of, and monitoring the determination of appeals in matters of
developments as respects, workplace employment rights. Additionally, the Court
relations, has a number of functions in relation to
4 conducting or commissioning research Joint Labour Committees and the making
into matters pertaining to workplace of Employment Regulation Orders as well
relations, as registering Joint Industrial Councils and
Employment Agreements.
4 providing advice, information and the
findings of research conducted by the The Court consists of 13 full-time members
Commission to joint labour committees – a Chairman, 4 Deputy Chairmen and
and joint industrial councils, 8 ordinary members representative of
4 advising and apprising the Minister employers (4) and workers (4). The Chairman
in relation to the application of, and and Deputy Chairmen are appointed by
compliance with, relevant enactments, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and
and Innovation; the 4 Employers’ Members of the
Court are nominated by IBEC (Irish Business
4 providing information to members of and Employers Confederation) and the 4
the public in relation to employment Workers’ Members of the Court are nominated
enactments. by ICTU (Irish Congress of Trade Unions) and
then appointed by the Minister. The Labour
Court also has a legal adviser (the Registrar).

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