Written answers

Thursday, 15 October 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Rights

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 104: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the review process on employee representation as outlined in point 9.3 of the Transitional Agreement 2008 to 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36496/09]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals to outlaw the victimisation of employees for involvement in trade union activity with regard to item 9.4 of the Transitional Agreement for 2008 to 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36498/09]

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 together.

The law and practice relating to the status of collective bargaining in this country, and the arrangements to support it and address issues of victimisation and discrimination against those who seek to promote it, were matters which were discussed at length during the social partnership discussions which lead to the conclusion of the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement 2008 - 2009. The Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement 2008 – 2009 (paras 9.1 – 9.3) provides for the establishment of a review process which would consider the legal and other steps necessary to enable the employee representation mechanisms that had been established under previous agreements – and in legislation – to operate as they had been intended.

The Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement 2008 - 2009 (para 9.4) also commits the Government to bringing forward legislative proposals to prohibit the victimisation of trade union members and to prohibit the incentivisation of persons not to be members of a trade union.

With a view to progressing work on both commitments, a Review Group on Employee Representation – chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and on which my Department; the Department of Finance; trade unions; and employers are represented – has been put in place to examine these issues. Informal engagement has taken place between the parties and position papers have been submitted by the employer and trade union representatives on the issues requiring the Group's consideration.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.