Labour Court recommends forum for 50 ESB eel fishermen

In 2001, the Labour Court recommended that the ESB Fisheries Office and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union establish a forum without delay for 50 eel fishermen working under ESB permits to discuss shared issues. The Court found they could be treated as workers under the Industrial Relations Acts because they had contracts to carry out work under the ESB’s auspices, though their status as employees was unclear. The ESB had argued that permit holders were not employees. The recommendation was signed on 5 November 2001.