Speech by Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs on the occasion of the launch of the Annual Report of the Labour Court, 2000.

I am very pleased to be here today to launch the Annual Report of the Labour Court for the year 2000. In addition to the Annual Report, the Court is also launching a new website and a new Guide to the Labour Court today.

The Annual Report provides a comprehensive and very useful overview of the activities of the Labour Court. The year 2000 was another busy year on the industrial relations front and I would like to thank the members and staff of the Court for their hard work during the year.

The Labour Court has made a significant contribution to Irish industrial relations through the years. The high regard in which it is held by both workers and employees is due to the dedicated service given by the Court and the expertise of those who work there.

The Labour Court has a crucial role as the court of last resort for the settlement of industrial disputes when all other avenues for dispute resolution have been explored. We have in place procedures and institutions in Ireland to support dispute resolution and it is incumbent on employers and employees to work within those procedures and institutions. There is a moral obligation on all parties to disputes to abide by proper procedures and act responsibly in their utilisation of the services and assistance of the Labour Court.

Since its establishment in 1946, the industrial relations environment in which the Labour Court operates has changed. Additional functions have been assigned to the Court under various Acts, most recently the National Minimum Wage Act which came into effect in April 2000, and these add to the complexity of the nature of its work. During 2000, for example, the Court received its first cases under the new Employment Equality Act which came into operation in late 1999.

The Industrial Relations Amendment Bill 2000, is an important step in the ongoing development of our industrial relations system and will further expand the role of the Labour Court. The Act will give the Labour Court new dispute settling powers in circumstances where parties have not engaged in talks. It will deal with problems which arise in disputes where no negotiation arrangements are in place and where collective bargaining fails to take place.

The establishment of a website in conjunction with the publication of the Guide to the Labour Court is an indication of the commitment of the Labour Court to those it serves. I would like to congratulate the Labour Court on their website. This site will be an invaluable resource for employers, trade unions and workers, providing information, as it does, on the role function and activities of the Court. A very welcome feature of the site is that it provides access to, and searching facilities on the database of Recommendations, Determinations, Orders and Decisions of the Court. Enormous effort has gone into the design and development of this website and it gives access to a wealth of up-to-date information in a user friendly way.

The new Guide to the Labour Court is intended to be of assistance to users of the Court, students, and anyone who has an interest in industrial relations. It provides a comprehensive guide to the functions, structure, services and procedures of the Court. It also includes clear information on how cases are progressed, how to prepare submissions (and examples of submissions), and what happens at a hearing.

The website and Guide illustrate a commitment to making information on the Labour Court available to the widest possible audience. I would like to commend the members and staff of the Labour Court for their excellent work during the year and to wish you all continued success for the future.

Thank you.