Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 250: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the legal guarantees he is seeking in respect of workers rights in the context of the Lisbon treaty. [47410/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ensuring protection for the rights of workers is a central concern of the Government. The development of European policy and practice, as reflected in EU law, has been hugely positive for Irish and European workers. Directives cover a range of issues and rights, including equal pay for men and women; parental leave; maternity leave; the organisation of working time; equal access to men and women to employment and vocational training; equal treatment in social security; minimum health and safety requirements in the workplace; part-time workers; fixed-term work; and equal treatment in respect of racial or ethnic origin.

As the Deputy will be aware, last month the Government and social partners ratified a series of commitments aimed at legislating in the area of collective bargaining and trade union recognition by June 2009.

In addition, the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights represent a significant advance with regard to the rights of workers, not least in respect of the operation of collective bargaining. Other rights covered include workers' right to information and consultation within the business, free access to placement services, to protection in the event of unjustified dismissal, to fair and just working conditions, a prohibition on child labour and the protection of young people at work, rights of parental leave and to social security and assistance.

This was recognised by both the Executive of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the European Trade Union Confederation when they decided to lend their support to the Lisbon Treaty.

In its meeting of 11/12 December, the European Council carefully noted the concerns of the Irish people as presented by the Taoiseach, and as set out in Annex 1 to the Council Conclusions. It agreed that "all of the concerns set out in the said statement shall be addressed to the mutual satisfaction of Ireland and the other Member States".

A number of social issues, including social progress and the protection of workers' rights, were included in the Taoiseach's statement. The European Council agreed that, in addressing these concerns, it would confirm the high importance attached by the Union to these matters.

In the months ahead, the Government will be working with our EU partners and with the EU institutions in order to give to effect to the commitments contained in the European Council conclusions, including in relation to workers' rights.