Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy White, has done extensive work in respect of this issue. He informed me yesterday that he expects to bring his proposals before the Cabinet sub-committee in the next week or two. I will keep the Deputy informed of the position.

On the question of collective bargaining, I would refer the Deputy to the statement issued by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he spoke at the 102nd International Labour Conference in Geneva. He said: "It has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to promote collective bargaining through the development of an institutional framework supportive of voluntary system of industrial relations". In the context of the programme for Government commitment, the Minister has written to all social dialogue participants in terms of reviewing collective bargaining against the backdrop of industrial relations legislation. Submissions have been received and discussions have been taking place between stakeholders' representatives and Department officials. The Minister expects to be in a position to conclude that consultation process shortly and to report to Government in the autumn on the outcome of that process and what proposals to improve the volunteerist system of industrial relations might be brought forward in 2013. He went on to say that he is happy that satisfactory arrangements can be put in place that will reconcile Ireland's constitutional, social and economic traditions and international obligations while at the same time ensuring the success in building Ireland's domestic jobs-base and in continuing to attract overseas investment into the country.

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