Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001

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Appeals from and enforcement of decisions of rights commissioner.

17.—(1) A party concerned may appeal to the Labour Court from a decision of a rights commissioner under section 16 and, if the party does so, the Labour Court shall give the parties an opportunity to be heard by it and to present to it any evidence relevant to the appeal, shall make a determination in writing in relation to the appeal affirming, varying or setting aside the decision and shall communicate the determination to the parties.

(2) An appeal under this section shall be initiated by the party concerned giving, within 6 weeks of the date on which the decision to which it relates was communicated to the party, a notice in writing to the Labour Court containing such particulars as are determined by the Labour Court under subsection (4) and stating the intention of the party concerned to appeal against the decision.

(3) A copy of a notice under subsection (2) shall be given by the Labour Court to the other party concerned as soon as may be after the receipt of the notice by the Labour Court.

(4) The following matters, or the procedures to be followed in relation to them, shall be determined by the Labour Court, namely—

(a) the procedure in relation to all matters concerning the initiation and the hearing by the Labour Court of appeals under this section,

(b) the times and places of hearings of such appeals,

(c) the representation of the parties to such appeals,

(d) the publication and notification of determinations of the Labour Court,

(e) the particulars to be contained in a notice under subsection (2), and

(f) any matters consequential on, or incidental to, the foregoing matters.

(5) The Minister may, at the request of the Labour Court, refer a question of law arising in proceedings before it under this section to the High Court for determination by the High Court and the determination of that Court shall be final and conclusive.

(6) A party to proceedings before the Labour Court under this section may appeal to the High Court from a determination of the Labour Court on a point of law and the determination of the High Court shall be final and conclusive.

(7) Section 39(17) of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967 , shall apply in relation to proceedings before the Labour Court under this Part as it applies to matters referred to the Employment Appeals Tribunal under that section with—

(a) the substitution in that provision of references to the Labour Court for references to the Tribunal,

(b) the deletion in paragraph (d) of that provision of “registered”, and

(c) the substitution in paragraph (e) of that provision of “a fine not exceeding €1,900” for “a fine not exceeding twenty pounds”.

(8) Where a decision of a rights commissioner in relation to a complaint under this Act has not been carried out by the employer concerned in accordance with its terms, the time for bringing an appeal against the decision has expired and no such appeal has been brought, the employee concerned may, not later than 6 weeks after the expiry of that time, bring the complaint before the Labour Court and the Labour Court shall, without hearing the employer concerned or any evidence (other than in relation to the matters aforesaid) make a determination to the like effect as the decision.

(9) The bringing of a complaint before the Labour Court under subsection (8) shall be effected by giving to the Labour Court a notice in writing containing such particulars (if any) as may be determined by the Labour Court.

(10) The Labour Court shall publish, in such manner as it thinks fit, particulars of any determination made by it under paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) of subsection (4) (not being a determination as respects a particular appeal under this section) and subsection (9).