Mr. Denis Sheridan:

SIPTU has been lobbying since 1994 to get the relevant changes. The reason it probably was not seen is because there were only three Irish multinationals and a review was not done because the issue was deemed not big enough. Since 2011, SIPTU has worked with the  European Trade Union Confederation, ETUC, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and this issue has been on our agenda.

One part of the report by Mr. Dennis Radtke to the current European Parliament recommends a recast and states changes must be made and that is contained in the Irish situation. Mr. McCormack hit the nail on the head when he stated the directive affects many people in Europe. We have been contacted by political parties located around Europe because they are watching developments as constituent members are being affected due to their legal bases being in Ireland. We have had this matter on the agenda since 1994 but, unfortunately, it has waned and died. However, when Brexit came into view, we considered this matter with Brexit in mind and we saw the issues. It was at that time that we decided that neither we nor the Government could continue to put this matter on the long finger but were obliged to act. Unfortunately, the Government did not act and SIPTU has lobbied the Government about this matter for over four years.

In 2019, the ETUC held a training conference in Dublin and members of the Government were invited to attend the training conference to learn what European works councils were about as they clearly believed that there were only three multinationals in Ireland and, therefore, only three companies were affected. Last year, the ETUC specifically came to Ireland to hold a conference because the Government was not paying attention to what was going on. The ETUC held its conference here and we worked hand in hand with it.

Certain members of political parties were invited, some of whom turned up. Senator Sherlock was invited and turned up. Senator Gavan was also invited. Representatives of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were contacted but did not turn up. It has been on the agenda but it has been floating under the radar.