Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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48. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he anticipates scoping research will conclude and a pilot regarding taking collective bargaining into account for public procurement will begin, as laid out in the Action Plan on Collective Bargaining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62290/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On 5 November 2025, I along, with my colleague Minister Peter Burke launched Ireland’s Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining, this is a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s well-established system of voluntary industrial relations.

The Action Plan introduces a series of practical measures to empower, promote, and safeguard collective bargaining, with the overarching goal of fostering fair, productive, and resilient workplaces.

It outlines 22 targeted actions across five strategic pillars, reflecting a whole-of-system approach to enhancing collective bargaining in Ireland.

Action 1 is to Undertake comprehensive research into the coverage and impact of collective bargaining within the Irish context. This includes the development of case studies and an assessment of both the direct and indirect costs and benefits associated with reducing industrial disputes through collective bargaining.

Research is scheduled to commence in November 2025 and conclude by March 2026.

Action 6 is to conduct exploratory research, including a Regulatory Impact Assessment and SME Test, to examine the feasibility of introducing a pilot initiative that would incorporate collectively bargained agreements as a weighting factor in public procurement processes.

Research is expected to begin in Q3 2026 and conclude by Q3 2029.

The Action Plan will be implemented in close collaboration with Ireland’s social partners and will be overseen by the Technical Subgroup of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF). A mid-term review in 2028 will ensure the Plan remains responsive to evolving labour market dynamics and continues to deliver on its objectives.