Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18 together.

The social dialogue unit, part of the economic division in my Department, co-ordinates and supports the Government's overall approach to social dialogue through a variety of mechanisms. These mechanisms includes LEEF, the labour employer economic forum, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the labour market. The LEEF has met regularly to facilitate discussions with Government on issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic and our economic recovery. The most recent plenary meeting, which I chaired, took place on 28 October.

Social dialogue through the LEEF process played a crucial role in ensuring workplaces are safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, and a subgroup of LEEF was responsible for preparing, updating and overseeing a work safely protocol which has provided guidance to employers and workers on the steps they need to take collectively to ensure workplaces are safe during the pandemic. The most recent update of the protocol, along with a LEEF guidance note, was published in November. Under the auspices of LEEF, there has also been significant progress on other issues such as the introduction of statutory sick pay, remote working and establishment of a high level review of collective bargaining. There are also LEEF sub-groups dealing with issues including aviation, childcare and the shared island initiative.

The social dialogue unit in my Department also supports my engagements with representatives from the environmental pillar, the community and voluntary pillar and the farming and agriculture pillar. This has included a series of meetings between myself and key Ministers with those groups earlier this year. This was an opportunity to discuss how social dialogue can be strengthened, as well as current issues of concern to those sectors. Social dialogue between Government, trade unions and other representative groups also takes place through structures like the national economic dialogue, the National Economic and Social Council and the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, through many sectoral groups and with Ministers and Departments directly. The Government is keen to build on these structures, including through a national dialogue on climate action as part of the climate action plan.

As we manage the economy through these challenging times, the Government will continue to engage with representatives under the aegis of LEEF, as well as other stakeholders, and work to strengthen the structures and practice of social dialogue across all areas.

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