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

The purpose of these Regulations is to transpose into Irish law Directive 2014/67/EU ("the Directive") on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC ("the Framework Directive") concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ("the IMI Regulation").

Posted Workers are individuals who are employed in one EU Member State but are posted by their employer to work in another Member State on a temporary basis.

The Directive contains a number of new measures aimed at improving cooperation between Members States and their competent authorities to ensure the effectiveness of the protections provided for in the Framework Directive. Both Directives put in place a framework for the provision of services by posting workers, and create the conditions to enable those posted workers to enforce their rights.

Regulation No. 1 provides that these Regulations may be cited as the European Union (Posting of Workers) Regulations 2016 and will come into force on the date of signature by the Minister. Regulation No. 2 provides the interpretation for the Regulations. Regulation No. 3 provides that the Workplace Relations Commission is the competent authority in the State for the purposes of the Directive and the central liaison office for the purposes of the Framework Directive.