Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to promoting positive working conditions in Ireland and ensuring access to high quality jobs. However, it is also important to maintain a regulatory environment to allow businesses to remain viable and indeed to thrive. The programme for Government outlines a strong, forward-looking enterprise and fiscal framework, prioritising economic and employment growth. The Deputy will be aware that extensive improvements to workers' rights have been implemented in recent years, including new legislation on tips and gratuities, introducing the right to request remote work, as well as a new public holiday to celebration of St. Brigid’s Day, legislating for employer-paid statutory sick leave, banning zero-hour contracts, enhancing the protection of employees facing collective redundancies due to insolvency, as well as substantial increases in the national minimum wage. Between 2020 and 2025, the minimum wage has increased from €10.10 to €13.50, representing a nominal increase of 33.7%. The Employment Permits Act 2024 updated the employment permit system, introducing a new seasonal employment permit, which is being piloted this year. This year will also see the expansion of the regime to reduce the gender pay gap.

The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published on 1 April 2025 and successfully completed Second Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday, 8 April 2025. The Bill, once enacted, will deliver a new employment right allowing, but in no way compelling, an employee to stay in employment until the State pension age of 66. The Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024 comes into effect on 1 August 2025 to reflect higher rates of pay for craft and general constructions workers. Pay will increase by 3.4% in August 2025 and again by 3.2% in August 2026.

See this speech in context