The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 (No. 16 of 2015). It assumes the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), Equality Tribunal (ET), Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Rights Commissioners Service (RCS), and the first-instance (Complaints and Referrals) functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). The EAT, ET and RCS will continue to operate for a period after establishment of the WRC to deal with legacy cases, i.e. cases which have been specifically referred to them prior to the date on which the WRC was established. All complaints or disputes referred to those bodies after that date stand to be dealt with by the WRC alone. The Commission may provide such advice as it considers appropriate on any matter relating to workplace relations to (a) employers or representative bodies or associations of employers, or (b) employees, trade unions or excepted bodies, whether or not it has received a request in that behalf from any such person.