Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

In Sinn Féin, we stand in solidarity with workers across all sectors who, through their hard work, keep our economy moving. Far too often, though, workers face insecure pay, unstable conditions, and a bargaining environment that favours the few over the many. That needs to change.

I thank Labour for bringing this Bill forward and I want to give my strong support to ensuring robust, fair and enforceable collective bargaining for every worker. Central to this effort are joint labour committees that set legally binding employment conditions and rates of pay for workers in sectors such as childcare, cleaning, security and hospitality. When joint labour committees function effectively, they raise standards, protect workers' rights and provide a level playing field for employers who commit to fair labour practices.

The current situation is troubling. In some industries, the formation and operation of joint labour committees hinge on the willingness of employer bodies to engage in consultation. Where those bodies refuse or fail to participate, the joint labour committees process can stall, giving a de facto veto power to those who would rather race to the bottom than invest in decent pay and safe, regulated working conditions. That is not acceptable in today's modern economy when so many workers are dealing with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The Bill seeks to address this by empowering the Labour Court to appoint employer or worker representatives to a joint labour committee when the relevant organisations fail or refuse to engage. In practical terms, this means no more breakdowns in communication due to a single party's veto and the balance of power is realigned to ensure workers' voices are heard.

Credible collective bargaining is the backbone of fair work. It reduces the race to the bottom, where pay and working conditions are undercut in pursuit of cost cutting, and it strengthens the social contract between workers and the businesses that rely on their labour. It provides certainty for employers who compete on quality and reliability, not just on cheapest bids.

We must also recognise the broader context; the need for legislatively protected collective bargaining has never been greater. The Minister, Deputy Burke, is expected to make an announcement in the near future and workers and unions are hoping it is a step in the right direction for collective bargaining, a pledge he signed before the general election.

A strong, enforceable framework gives workers a seat at the table, ensures that pay and conditions reflect the true value of their labour, and helps create stable, productive workplaces with fewer turnovers of staff. It also signals to the economy and to international partners that Ireland is serious about fair working standards. We want to empower and support workers, and rebalance the power dynamics that govern industrial relations.

Recently, SIPTU wrote to three Ministers calling for their urgent intervention to ensure the reappointment under warranty of a Labour Court deputy chairman and warned that failure to do so would seriously diminish that body's effectiveness and likely lead to a greater number of industrial disputes. I am urging the Minister of State to stop turning away from workers and their rights and ensure protections are always in place for workers. Turning a blind eye to these services will affect thousands of workers across the country who will be denied the right to a prompt resolution of their personal workplace issues under employment law.

Strengthening joint labour committees is a commitment to fair pay, decent working conditions and a more resilient economy. It can also create a safe working environment and protect workers from corporate manslaughter and dangerous working conditions.

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