Ahern forced to eat words on number of labour inspectors

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was criticised yesterday for claiming the Government had increased the number of labour inspectors to 90 when the true figure was only a third of that amount.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil last week that the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement would get a maximum of only eight new staff this year because the Government’s priority was increasing the Labour Inspectorate.

The inspectorate, a section within the Department of Enterprise, is tasked with inspecting work premises to ensure compliance with labour laws.