1074. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in view of reports by an organisation (details supplied) the measures he has taken to investigate these breaches and ensure workers are protected in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59070/26]

1075. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in view of reports by an organisation (details supplied) if he has met the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59071/26]

1076. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in view of reports by an organisation (details supplied) the engagement he has had with the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59072/26]

1077. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is satisfied with the resourcing and ability of the WRC to investigate and enforce compliance of employment law in workplaces across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59073/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1074 to 1077, inclusive, together.

My Department has responsibility for a robust suite of employment rights legislation that protects all workers, including migrants. In this regard, it is important to note that all employers, regardless of sector, are responsible for ensuring that their employees receive the protections afforded to them under employment legislation. Employment rights legislation, including the Organisation of Working Time, National Minimum Wage, Payment of Wages, Employment Equality Acts, Health and Safety, Terms of Employment (Information) and Unfair Dismissals Acts, apply horizontally across all sectors.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent statutory body set up and resourced by my Department to adjudicate in individual cases. If an employee in Ireland believes that they may not be receiving all of the protections they are entitled to, the WRC can assist, through the provision of information as well as an adjudication service. The WRC also operates a labour inspection service to ensure compliance with employment legislation.

The WRC Inspectorate continues to play a significant role in protecting vulnerable workers and addressing potential exploitation risks with an increase in emphasis on employment permit compliance which, by extension, involves sectors deemed high risk for labour exploitation of migrant workers. Each of over 5,000 WRC labour inspections annually feature controls on employment permits. WRC Labour Inspectors undertake robust training in all aspects of the role, to ensure they have full ability to carry out their statutory functions to inspect and enforce compliance of employment law in workplaces.

As Minister with special responsibility for Employment, Small Business and Retail, I have met with the organisation referenced to discuss the findings of their report. Those findings underscored the need for continued vigilance to ensure that all workers in Ireland are treated fairly, with dignity, and in full compliance with employment law. In this regard, addressing the exploitation of migrant workers is a priority for me and my Department, and work in this area is ongoing through continued engagement and policy development. Furthermore, any changes to employment rights and employment permits policy, including legislative reform, are informed by labour market evidence and data and must be aligned with Ireland’s economic needs, for which decent working conditions are vital.  To this end, my Department keeps both policy as well as the learnings from proactive inspections through the WRC under review to inform how we vindicate the employment rights of all employees in our economy, including migrant workers, where, as I have said already, there is no distinction insofar as employment rights and entitlements are concerned.