Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is absolutely committed to protecting workers. The Doherty report, which we commissioned, is our path towards doing that. We got a progress report on it only this week and work is under way on its recommendations. That is agreed at this point as the review mechanism we are looking at to improve workers' rights. So far, only last month on 17 June, the Labour Court confirmed it will examine the scope for amendments of its rules to include technical assessors, and it will engage with my Department on the possibility of reconfiguration of membership of the joint labour commissions. The Workplace Relations Commission has begun work with a view to developing a voluntary code of practice on collective bargaining. My Department has asked our social partners to submit joint proposals for training around collective bargaining. That is the work that is happening in this space, the work that continues to happen, and the work we are committed to as a Government.

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