11 February 2020
The Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Mr Pat Breen TD, today formally opened the Ennis Regional Services Office of the Workplace Relations Commission.
Speaking at the event, the Minister said that “This is a very important day. It represents the next step in the WRC plan to provide, to the greatest extent possible, the same range of services to people across the country as are available in Dublin. I believe this to be a very welcome development and one I fully support”.
The Minister acknowledged that the new WRC offices are not the only locations for adjudication hearings –the WRC hosts hearings in Donegal, Mayo, Kerry, Monaghan, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Louth, and Meath. “It is very important that a body like the WRC has regional presence. The WRC is looking at ways to further improve accessibility to its services – particularly for people who, for one reason or another, find travel or dealing with certain situations particularly difficult. Again, this is an initiative I strongly welcome and support.”
Mr. Liam Kelly, Director General of the WRC, said that the location in Ennis, because of its ease of access to the M18, means that parties from Limerick and Galway East will now be able use the full range of WRC facilities locally. Mr Kelly indicated that, in situations where a party might find attendance at the office particularly challenging, then the WRC would certainly consider alternative arrangements.