Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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621. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with the European Commission regarding the so-called ‘crisis mechanism’ within the European Defence Industrial Programme which would allow basic protections within the Working Time Directive to be suspended for arms companies, allowing them to override core workers’ rights provisions of EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59758/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The European Defence Industrial Programme is a matter for the Department of Defence.

As the Minister responsible for the overall Organisation of Working Time Act which transposes the Working Time Directive, I would like to strongly reiterate my commitment to maintaining robust employment rights protections for all sectors.

I am informed by my officials that we have not received a specific request from the Department of Defence to examine any proposals to dilute or suspend the provisions of the Working Time Directive in this manner to date.

My colleague, the Minister for Defence, may be in a position to provide the Deputy with information on the application of the European Defence Industrial Programme.