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Experts sought for employment-law group

The Government has issued a call for people interested in serving on a new group that will review legislation on employment and redundancy.

The Employment Law Review Group (ELRG) will comprise representatives of expert, technical, legal, Government, and regulatory bodies, as well as six ministerial nominees.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is now seeking nominees from the relevant bodies.

It is also seeking expressions of interest from “suitably qualified” candidates for appointment to the six ministerial roles by 8 November (3pm).

2024 act

All members will be appointed for a four-year term and can be re-appointed for up to two terms. The chair can serve up to ten years in total.

The ELRG was set up on a statutory basis by the enactment of the Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024, which was commenced on 1 July 2024.

The ELRG’s function will be to monitor, review, and advise on all aspects of employment and redundancy law, with a specific focus on promoting good workplace relations, simplifying the operation of employment and redundancy law, and ensuring that legislation in the area is updated to reflect international developments.

The department has stressed that the group’s focus will be more expert, technical, and legal, rather than representative of stakeholders’ interests.

‘Valuable resource’

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said that the ELRG would provide “a valuable resource” to ensure that the legal framework was fit for purpose. 

“Emerging trends will be examined to ensure that our employment legislation adapts to changes in the evolving contemporary workplace," he stated.

Among the list of bodies who will nominate a representative are the Law Society, the Employment Bar Association, the Courts Service, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.