Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason previous commitments made by the Government on workers right's issues have not been delivered. [33473/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to supporting workers and promoting positive working conditions in Ireland and our legislation is kept under review to maintain our robust suite of employment rights. It is also important to acknowledge the challenges the enterprise sector has faced over the last number of years and to maintain a regulatory environment that allows businesses to remain viable and indeed to thrive.

There have been significant developments in Ireland’s employment legislation in recent years including the introduction of statutory sick leave, the right to request remote work, protections for workers’ tips and gratuities, the introduction of an additional public holiday, banning zero hour contracts in most cases and enhancing the protection of employees facing collective redundancies due to insolvency.

There have also been substantial increases in the National Minimum Wage over the last few years. In 2024, there was a significant uplift of 12% / €1.40 in the minimum wage, and in 2025 the minimum wage increased by 80c (over 6%) to €13.50. These recent increases were well ahead of inflation and wages and have brought about substantial real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy.

Government still expects the minimum wage to increase over the coming years, however it is important that we manage these increases in a way that does not damage employment or competitiveness. As part of measures designed to bolster business resilience and support competitiveness, Government has agreed to adjust the implementation timeline for the Living Wage to 2029.

2025 will see further progression in employment rights. Officials in my Department are currently developing an action plan to promote collective bargaining, as required by the EU Adequate Minimum Wage Directive. The action plan will be published by end 2025.

The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published on 1 April 2025 and successfully completed Second Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday 8 April 2025. The Bill, once enacted, will deliver a new employment right allowing, but in no way compelling, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age of 66.

We are also ensuring employees of employers who cease trading without formally winding up can claim outstanding monies owed to them from the Social Insurance Fund under the Insolvency Payments Scheme. The Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 will deliver this change. This Bill was published on 23 May and completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 28 May.

The Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024 comes into effect on 1 August 2025 to reflect higher rates of pay for craft and general constructions workers. Pay will increase by 3.4% in August 2025 and again by 3.2% in August 2026.

We will also see further measures to improve pay transparency and progress towards the introduction of autoenrollment next year, which will be known by its brand name, My Future Fund. My Future Fund is on track to launch in January 2026, as recently announced by the Minister for Social Protection.

These upcoming measures in particular underscore this Government’s continuing commitment to ensuring a safe working environment, fair treatment for all workers, and fair wages, particularly those for the lowest paid workers in our economy.