Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is legislation planned to reform the law on collective bargaining to ensure compliance with recent European Court of Human Rights judgements, as was mentioned in the Programme for Government. [15115/13]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment on updating rights to collective bargaining and the planned date for the introduction of legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15206/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

Acting on the commitment in the Programme for Government requires consultation with stakeholders, including employer and worker representatives, and a review of the experience of the operation of the existing legislative framework as put in place under the Industrial Relations Acts of 2001 and 2004 and the consequences of the litigation that has arisen in the course of the operation of these Acts. To this end, I have written to relevant stakeholders inviting submissions on how the Industrial Relations Acts of 2001 and 2004 have functioned to date.

I hope to be in a position to come forward with any relevant proposals to reform the law as appropriate during 2013. In this context, I am certain that satisfactory arrangements can be put in place that will reconcile Ireland’s constitutional, social and economic traditions, and international obligations, whilst at the same time ensuring continued success in building Ireland’s domestic jobs-base and in attracting overseas investment into the economy.