24th April 2019
Pat Breen TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, today visited the site of what will be the new regional office of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), at the Clare Technology Park, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare.
The new office, which will be open in the Autumn 2019, will see the full range of WRC services – conciliation, adjudication, mediation, and inspection made available to people living and working in the Western region.
Speaking at his visit, Minister Breen said, “I am delighted to be here and see first-hand where in Ennis the office will be located”.
Minister Breen added that he welcomed the expansion of the WRC services to the region as “it now means complainants and respondents in the West will not have to travel long distances to have their cases heard – particularly as the office is only five minutes from the motorway”.
The Minister concluded by saying, “The WRC continues to work to increase its number of hearing venues. Last year it increased from 10 to 17 venues and following a review with the Court Service the WRC has also started this year to use some regional courthouses to hear adjudication cases. This and the plan to expand the offices is a very welcome development and one I fully support.”
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Workplace Relations Commission
The Workplace Relations Commission was established on 1 October 2015.
The main functions of the WRC are to:
- Promote the improvement and maintenance of good workplace relations.
- Promote and encourage compliance with relevant employment, equality and equal status legislation.
- Provide guidance in relation to compliance with Codes of Practice.
- Conduct reviews of, and monitor developments in, workplace relations generally.
- Conduct or commission relevant research and provide advice, information and the findings of research to Joint Labour Committees and Joint Industrial Councils.
- Advise the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation on the application of, and compliance with, relevant legislation.
- Provide information to the public in relation to employment legislation. (other than the Employment Equality Act).
With a wide workforce of just under 200 staff, supplemented by over 30 external adjudicators, and with offices in Dublin, Carlow, Cork, Shannon and Sligo, and operational bases for hearings and meetings in many counties, the WRC’s mission is to deliver high-quality service nationally, free of charge, which is
- speedy, user-friendly, independent, effective, impartial and cost-effective,
- provides variable means of dispute resolution, redress and effective enforcement, and
- improves workplace relations generally
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The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For more information please contact press.office@dbei.gov.ie or ph: (01) 6312200
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