Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
343. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is any legislation governing the establishment of federations or associations representing an entire business sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52722/12]
View answerMy Department provides a legislative basis for a number of different corporate entities, including companies, industrial and provident societies and trade unions. There is no legislative obligation on representative federations or associations to register, although many do so to avail of the various protections and privileges offered by the corporate form.
The Trade Union Acts, in particular, provide for the registration of trade & employer associations, not just the more commonly understood employee trade unions. If a representative organisation wishes to engage in negotiations for the fixing of wages or other conditions of employment it must, unless it is an excepted body, hold a negotiation licence, which may only be held by an authorised trade union (as defined in Section 7 of the Trade Union Act, 1941).
It is, of course, open to each individual entity to choose the corporate model, if any, which best suits its ethos and the nature of its business.
