Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Engagement with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment

10:00 am

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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We have done a significant amount of work through the LEEF committee. We met all actors to get together our plan for collective bargaining. Any country below 80% collective bargaining has to provide an action plan by the end of 2025, I think. We will meet that deadline. We are working on that plan. There are two issues relating to the LEEF high-level implementation group which require a change of law and legal advice. The first relates to good faith engagement. We are working through that process. We have a meeting with a subgroup of LEEF, chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on 7 July, I think. It will consider that advice at that meeting. The second relates to authority and power regarding one side not turning up to JLCs and strengthening the Labour Court. We have not received advice from the Attorney General on that. I met Owen last week and other union representatives because it is important that I engage with them. They need to see results. On the business side, they need to engage in the full spirit of LEEF, which they are. I am hopeful we will make progress in our subcommittee on 7 July and adjudicate on the first piece of legal advice. It is critical we have our action plan in respect of the directive in advance of the deadline.