Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
61. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will elaborate on the work that is planned under the Shared Island initiative to address divergence in employment standards North and South, particularly in the context of cross-Border employers and workers, and the way in which this will be advanced in the coming period. [49958/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Shared Island Initiative is taken forward on a whole of Government basis, by all Ministers and their Departments and coordinated by my Department’s Shared Island Unit.
Employment standards are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD. I am informed that Minister Burke’s Department engages regularly with Northern Ireland Executive counterparts to discuss common interests on a range of employment rights policy matters.
The Workplace Relations Commission and its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Labour Relations Agency, also engage regularly for mutual learning and information-sharing opportunities.
As part of the UK-Ireland 2030 Joint Statement, that I and Prime Minister Starmer issued on 6 March, both Governments recognised the importance of the Common Travel Area in facilitating the daily lives of citizens across these islands, and committed to work together to minimise barriers to work or travel for those who benefit from it.
On 4 April, the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) was briefed on the potential to strengthen the all-island labour market for the benefit of employers and workers on the entire island.
The Government will continue to work for enhancements to the all-island labour market and facilitation of cross-border working in both jurisdictions through reciprocal approaches with the Executive and UK Government.
