Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
277. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reasons an explicit requirement for employers to recognise and engage with their employees trade union is not included in the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31511/26]
View answerIt has been the consistent policy of successive Irish governments to promote collective bargaining through the development of an institutional framework consistent with Ireland's voluntary system of industrial relations, premised upon freedom of contract and freedom of association. Ireland’s existing voluntary industrial relations system has proven successful in delivering stability, industrial peace and strong economic performance over decades to the benefit of both workers and employers alike.
On 5 November 2025, I launched Ireland's Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining, a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s well-established system of voluntary industrial relations, one of the first countries in the EU to prepare such a plan. While other countries waited to see the outcome of a European Court of Justice decision on the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive, I was committed to delivering a plan whatever the court decided and I have delivered on that promise.
The Action Plan is an ambitious one, with more than 20 actions to be delivered over the lifetime of the plan, including building a research base, building capacity and skills, and other measures to support collective bargaining.
A Technical Sub-Group of LEEF, consisting of Department officials and the Social Partners are meeting regularly to progress the implementation of the Action Plan, with good engagement across a range of actions already.
The Action Plan will be delivered on a phased basis and supported by a robust monitoring framework, including a mid-term review scheduled for 2028. This phased and responsive approach will ensure the continued relevance of the Plan in the context of evolving labour market conditions and the collective bargaining landscape.
