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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 27, inclusive, together.

The Government recognises the importance of regular engagement with all sectors of society. In recent months I have had a number of engagements with social partners in a variety of formats. This includes through mechanisms such as the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which brings together representatives of employers and trade unions with Ministers to exchange views on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market and which are of mutual concern.

The most recent plenary meeting of the LEEF, which I chair, took place on 5 December. It was an opportunity to look at current challenges, in particular in the areas of energy, the cost of living and winter challenges. Under the auspices of LEEF there has been significant progress on issues such as the introduction of statutory sick pay, workplace safety during Covid and the report of the high-level review group on collective bargaining.

Other engagements I have had with social partners include meetings in recent months with both the community and voluntary pillar in August and the environmental pillar in October to discuss how social dialogue can be further strengthened, as well as issues of concern to the sectors.

Social dialogue and engagement between Government, trade unions and other representative groups also takes place through structures like the national economic dialogue, the National Economic and Social Council, the national dialogue on climate action, the national competitiveness and productivity council, through many sectoral groups and with Ministers and Departments directly. Citizens assemblies, including the current assembly on biodiversity loss and the recently concluded assembly on a directly elected mayor for Dublin are other models for broad-based social dialogue.

November saw the launch of the first civic forum for the community and voluntary sector, which I opened and which will further support dialogue between the sector and local and central government.

The Government looks forward to continuing its engagements with the social partners in the period ahead as we continue to strengthen social dialogue and work collaboratively to tackle major challenges facing the country.

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