Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's reference to the significant legal changes because we had an engagement with IBEC and the ICTU at the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. During the course of that engagement, IBEC was very much of the view that no legislation would be required or very minimal legislation - I think it actually said “No” - whereas Congress took the view that legislation was very definitely going to be required. I note the Minister's predecessor had been a bit noncommittal on the issue but, because I feel it is inevitable, I think we will move towards a stage where there is going to be significant legislative change. Sinn Féin is committed to giving workers the right to organise because that is their very best bet, the safest they can be and the most power they can have at work.

Will the Minister indicate when the action plan on collective bargaining will be presented to the Commission as part of the transposition of this directive? I know we have had a change of personnel but a lot of work has been done on this and the momentum is there. It can be done and it should be done quickly. The Minister might give me an update on when it will be presented to the Commission.

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