Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he has had with trade unions regarding the ongoing 'Respect at Work' campaign being promoted by unions (details supplied). [50769/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the Respect at Work Campaign which is seeking new protections for workers seeking to organise in their workplaces.

Our Programme for Government commits to the development of an Action Plan to promote collective bargaining as required by the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages.

Article 4 of the Directive, Promotion of Collective Bargaining on Wage Setting, aims to promote collective bargaining on wages in all Member States. The Directive requires Member States in which the collective bargaining coverage rate is less than 80% to provide “for a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining” and to publish an Action Plan to promote collective bargaining. The deadline for the Action Plan to be submitted to the Commission is the end of 2025.

A technical working group has been established with Department officials and the social partners, including SIPTU representatives, to consider the content of Ireland’s Action Plan. The working group has had a number of meetings, and has received proposals, including some of the issues raised in the ‘Respect at Work’ campaign.

I discussed Ireland’s action plan when I met with the social partners at the LEEF Subgroup on Employment and Enterprise.

I would like to stress that the Government fully supports the right of any worker to join and be active in their trade union. Employees have the right under the Constitution to form associations and trade unions. Under Irish legislation, an employee cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because they are a member of a trade union.