Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
490. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on a company's refusal to recognise a trade union (details supplied) despite the Labour Court recommendations; and to address this issue under the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive (Directive 2022/2041). [30300/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government fully supports the right of any worker to join and be active in their trade union. Employees have the right under the Constitution to form associations and trade unions. Under Irish legislation, an employee cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because they are a member of a trade union. However, under Irish law, there is no requirement for an employer to recognise trade unions for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Ireland’s industrial relations system has traditionally been based on a voluntarist model, where collective bargaining is encouraged but not generally compelled by law. In practice, this means the State does not direct a private employer to recognise a particular union. However, there are well-established dispute-resolution mechanisms available through the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court, including processes designed to address pay and conditions disputes. I can assure you that the State’s institutions are available to support a meaningful and effective resolution of issues between workers and employers.
Governments adhering to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business conduct are required to set up a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines and to address complaints made under the Guidelines (these are referred to as “specific instances”). The Ireland NCP is a standalone Unit in my Department.
Complaints handled by the Ireland NCP including the one the Deputy has mentioned are addressed through a non-judicial grievance mechanism which offers parties a means to resolve issues typically through mediation. Information on complaints received by the Ireland NCP are available on its webpage: enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/trade-investment/oecd-guidelines-ncp/specific-instances/.
Alongside existing mechanisms, my Department published Ireland's Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining in November 2025. Implementation is well underway and is overseen by a technical sub-group of LEEF. The publication of Ireland's Action Plan marks a significant step in promoting good collective bargaining practices and expanding coverage, in line with the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages.
