Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to introduce the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015 for the consideration of the House.

The Bill, in its totality, represents a significant step forward for workers and employers in providing clear, workable and constitutionally robust frameworks within which workers remuneration and conditions of employment can be discussed and determined. I am confident that the framework proposed will fit Ireland's constitutional, social and economic traditions and its international obligations, and importantly, will ensure continued success in creating jobs and attracting investment into the economy.

The purpose of the legislation is twofold. First, it will provide for the reintroduction of the registration of employment agreements between employers and trade unions in individual enterprises, and will provide for a new statutory framework to replace the former sectoral registered employment agreements. Second, the Bill will put in place the legislative amendments required to give effect to the programme for Government commitment to reform the Industrial Relations Acts 2001 and 2004.

Before moving to detail the various sections of the Bill, I will give Senators an overview of what the Bill achieves. Part 2 of the Bill provides for the registration of employment agreements between an employer or employers or a trade union of employers and trade unions of workers governing remuneration and conditions of employment in individual enterprises. The content of these agreements will be a matter for the contracting parties and they will be legally binding on the subscribing parties.