Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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251. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the completion of an Action Plan on Collective Bargaining is not a priority action under the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, particularly as collective bargaining coverage in Ireland is far below EU averages and the impending deadlines for establishing an action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50140/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity sets out 26 priority actions which are considered to be potentially transformative in tackling Ireland’s competitiveness challenge. The designation of ‘priority action’ within the Plan is focused on potential impact of the outcome of that action on Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity. The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity contains a total of 85 actions – and Government is committed to the implementation of each of these actions in order to enhance our competitiveness position.

The Programme for Government contains a separate commitment to finalise an Action Plan on the promotion of Collective Bargaining by the end of 2025, in line with the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages. Work on developing the Action Plan remains a priority action and is being carried out in conjunction with the social partners.

In developing the action plan, my Department has undertaken a consultative approach to date. In April 2025, my Department launched a public consultation process to obtain the views of interested stakeholders across the wider enterprise and employment sectors on the possible content of the action plan. The responses received from the process have assisted my Department in considering the proposals, both legislative and administrative, which may be included in the action plan. The responses to the public consultation will be published in due course on my Department's website.

The work of the technical working group is essential in developing the content of the action plan. The capacity to engage effectively in collective bargaining is a key element of the Directive and the Government hopes to further support the social partners in this area.