Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 33, inclusive, together.

The social dialogue unit, part of the economic division of the Department, co-ordinates and assists the Government's overall approach to social dialogue. Social dialogue takes place through a variety of mechanisms. This includes the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the labour market and which are of mutual concern.

The most recent plenary meeting, which I chaired, took place on 8 February. This was an opportunity to look at current challenges, in particular in the areas of energy and the cost of living.

Social dialogue and engagement between Government, the 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. Another model for broad-based social dialogue are citizens' assemblies.

The social dialogue unit will continue to assist the Government in engagements with the social partners in the period ahead as we work to strengthen the social dialogue and deal with the many major challenges facing the country.

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