Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
210. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will introduce the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill to provide for collective bargaining rights before the summer recess. [13911/15]
View answerCabinet approval was obtained at the end of 2014 to legislate for an improved framework for workers who are in dispute with their employer regarding their terms and conditions in situations where there are no arrangements with their employer to resolve the matters through collective bargaining. When enacted, this legislation will mark the fulfilment of one of the most significant commitments in the Programme for Government which indicated that reform in this area was needed. In developing these proposals Minister Bruton and I have been keen to respect the positions articulated by stakeholders to develop proposals that sustain our voluntary system, but also ensure that workers have confidence that, where there is no collective bargaining, they have an effective system that ensures they can air grievances about remuneration, terms and conditions and have these determined based on those in similar companies and not be victimised for doing so.
I expect this legislation to be published during this Dáil session and enacted as expeditiously as possible thereafter.
