Irish Congress Of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee

Response by NIC.ICTU to the Consultation on Proposal for a Draft Order In Council: The Public Authorities Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2007. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the largest voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland. Congress represents in excess of 250,000 workers covering over 30 trade unions. These workers are employed in all sectors of economic and social activity.

The ICTU are opposed to the proposal in the draft legislation to remove the statutory representation obligations and obligations to consult in relation to appointments to the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) and the Industrial Court (Court). The ICTU are against any change in the existing arrangements for making appointments to the board of the LRA. The current situation should be maintained to ensure the unique and independent role of the LRA.

The ICTU are also opposed to the proposal to remove the restriction that requires the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) to provide the Court case manager as the ICTU believe that the appointments of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Court should remain non-judicial appointments. The ICTU are of the opinion that the secretariat of the Court should not be transferred to the LRA. Yours sincerely Peter Bunting Assistant General Secretary ICTU