Address by Minister Kelleher on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of the EAT

Tuesday 18^th December 2007

As Minister for Labour Affairs, I am particularly delighted to be here with you this evening, in these historic surroundings, to celebrate a milestone in Irish employment law history.

The Ireland of the 1960s was a vastly different place to the Ireland of today, particularly in its economic fortunes. By 1967, Ireland had yet to become a Member of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). However, while the Irish economy had greatly expanded, the full effects of the programme of economic expansion undertaken by both Sean Lemass and T.K. Whittaker during the previous decade were just coming to fruition.

The Redundancy Payments Act of 1967, which established the Redundancy Appeals Tribunal, was enacted on 18^th December 1967. At the time, the creation of the Tribunal was considered an innovative move, by the State, in the area of employment rights.

It was set up to ensure that a worker’s statutory entitlement to redundancy was given the force, as well as the full protection of the law. The Act thus established a forum within which a worker could refer a claim to have those rights upheld. Apart from its continuing responsibility to hear appeals under the Redundancy Payments Acts, today, under its revised title, the Employment Appeals Tribunal now deals with fifteen other separate pieces of legislation. These range from claims for unfair dismissal to minimum notice, as well as hearing appeals from decisions and recommendations of the Rights Commissioner Service of the Labour Relations Commission.

The inaugural meeting of the first Redundancy Appeals Tribunal took place on 22^nd March 1968. The first Chairman was John Gleeson and there were 16 members. It heard its first appeal on 18^th April 1968. Between that date and December 1968, the Tribunal sat on seventy-five (75) days and heard a total of one hundred and thirty three (133) appeals. Eighty-three (83) of those appeals were heard in Dublin, and the remaining fifty appeals (50) were heard at various other centres around the country. From the start, then, it was clear that the Tribunal would have a countrywide and therefore a national dimension to its work. I am pleased that, forty years on, the Employment Appeals Tribunal continues as a vibrant body.

Indeed, instead of its early base of sixteen (16) Members, there are now one hundred and sixteen (116) Members of the Tribunal. It hears cases on two hundred and twenty-nine (229) days each year, and deals, on average, with a yearly total of 3,500 claims.

I’m struck that so many of our eminent legal practitioners here this evening have, as Members, also gone through the doors of the Tribunal. I know that in your careers you all brought, and continue to bring the experience you have gained at the Tribunal to your deliberations within the judicial system, whether as a Judge, Counsel, Solicitor, or practitioner in labour law. I want to pay special tribute to Maurice Gaffney, the second ever Chairman of the Tribunal, who is here with us this evening, as well as Dermot Gleeson, the former Attorney General and son of the first ever Chairman, John.

I am also delighted that so many Rights’ Commissioners are here this evening, emphasising the strong connections that exist between both organisations.

However, it’s you, the Tribunal Members, who have contributed so much to Irish employment law. It is extremely gratifying to know that your commitment and dedicated service have helped the thousands of individuals who have sought redress through the Tribunal since its establishment in 1967.

Tonight’s celebration is, therefore, a timely recognition of that public service. It is also an opportunity for me to recognise and thank the staff of the Tribunal Secretariat, those currently serving or as past members, who have, over the course of the last forty years, alsoserved the Irish public with compassion, commitment and understanding.

Most importantly, though, tonight is an opportunity for me, along with my Government colleagues here this evening, to thank all of you for your work, to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas, and to wish the Tribunal well as it continues it work.

ENDS/LA261