Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Dialogue Unit coordinates and supports the Government’s overall approach to social dialogue through a variety of mechanisms.

These mechanisms include LEEF, the Labour Employer Economic Forum, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the Labour Market. The LEEF has met regularly to facilitate discussions with Government on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and our economic recovery.

Social dialogue, through the LEEF process, played a crucial role in ensuring workplaces are safe during the COVID-19 pandemic including preparing, updating and overseeing a Work Safely Protocol. Under the auspices of LEEF, there has also been significant progress on other issues such as the introduction of statutory sick pay, remote working, and establishment of a High Level Review of Collective Bargaining.

The Social Dialogue Unit also supports my engagements with representatives from the Environmental Pillar, the Community and Voluntary Pillar, and the Farming and Agriculture Pillar. This has included a series of meetings between myself and key Ministers with those groups to discuss how social dialogue can be strengthened, as well as issues of concern to those sectors.

Social dialogue, between Government, trade unions and other representative groups also takes place through structures like the National Economic Dialogue, the National Economic and Social Council, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council and through many sectoral groups, and with Ministers and Departments directly.