Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 2nd October, 2015.

I, RICHARD BRUTON, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 1(2) (amended by section 20 (1)(a) of the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015 (No. 22 of 2015)) of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015), hereby make the following order:

1. This Order may be cited as the Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2015.

2. The 1st day of October 2015 is appointed as the day upon which the Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015) (other than sections 37, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70) shall, in so far as it is not already in operation, come into operation.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

30 September 2015.

RICHARD BRUTON,

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

The Workplace Relations Act 2015 makes provision for the establishment of a new simplified two-tier structure which will replace the five existing workplace relations bodies. The Labour Relations Commission (LRC), the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) will be replaced by the new Workplace Relations Commission and the appeals functions of the EAT will be incorporated into an expanded Labour Court.

The Workplace Relations Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 20th May, 2015. The Minister intends to commence the legislation in a number of stages with certain technical and operational provisions having been commenced on 1st August, 2015.

The purpose of this Order is to provide for the commencement of the majority of the remaining provisions of the Act (including the provisions that will establish the Workplace Relations Commission) on 1st October, 2015.