A 10-month long dispute over college charges for apprentices has finally been resolved, a conference of Ireland's largest craft union was told at the weekend.
Minister of State for Labour Affairs Mr Tony Killeen made the announcement at the biennial conference of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), which concluded at the Radisson Hotel in Limerick yesterday.
Mr Killeen told delegates that agreement had been reached in principle on student service charges and that the details would be worked out in the coming weeks.
Until now, institutes of technology had been withholding exam results from apprentices who refused to pay the controversial €223 service charge, which was due to increase to €250 this term. Without their exam results, apprentices could not complete their courses.
The TEEU had advised apprentice members not to pay the charges.
"I can confirm that the exam results will be released and students will only be liable for the same fees as heretofore," stated Mr Killeen.
He also told delegates that extra resources would be put into policing the electrical contracting, construction and manufacturing sectors, where the TEEU has a strong presence.
Four new industrial inspectors were being recruited, which would boost the total to 21, he said.
Also addressing the weekend conference was SIPTU general president Mr Jack O'Connor, who called on the TEEU to campaign vigorously for the establishment of a new Department of Labour and Social Affairs.
"With the passage of time, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has become increasingly dominated by the interests of business and employers, to the detriment of the rights of workers in our economy," Mr O'Connor said.
"The old Department of Labour has been relegated to the role of a marginalised 'sub-office' in a Department dominated by the free market ethos," he said.
This was clearly evidenced by the absence of anything remotely resembling a proper labour inspectorate, with only 14 relatively junior civil servants burdened with the responsibility of policing compliance, he added.