Mr. David Joyce:

I can kick off on collective bargaining. I thank the Senator for her questions. We will do our best to get through them all quickly. Of course we would like to see a right to collective bargaining in our legislation. The EU directive on an adequate minimum wage - the Senator also used the word "adequate" - and strengthening collective bargaining is an important step. It is the first ever EU legislation to explicitly aim to strengthen collective bargaining, which is welcome. It also talks about collective bargaining as a prerogative of trade unions, not the vague workers' organisations in the original Commission proposal. It guarantees a right to collective bargaining and protects workers who engage or wish to engage in it from discrimination.

It is an important step. There is also a requirement for member states with less than 80% collective bargaining coverage, which includes Ireland at approximately 34%, to take measures to increase collective bargaining, including the development of a national action plan in consultation with the social partners. Clear timelines and concrete measures are required. The national action plan is also to be reviewed every five years. We are on the cusp of something very important. The LEEF is keeping a close eye on this European development and discussing how it might be implemented in Ireland. This work is very well developed. We will all be aware of it very soon.