Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
172. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the trade unions in receipt of a negotiating licence that his Department does not recognise for collective bargaining and industrial relations purposes in part or in whole; the section of workers organised by a trade union with a negotiating licence to which non-recognition applies, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52995/18]
View answerThe Civil Service Conciliation & Arbitration Scheme (C&A Scheme) is the formal structure for the conduct of industrial relations in the civil service and the scheme is administered by my Department. Under the provisions of the C&A Scheme the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform may consider applications from any union or association seeking recognition under the Scheme provided that they are holders of a negotiation licence under the Trade Union Act, 1941. Such recognised unions or associations are organised on the basis of grade or category of employees within the civil service in order to facilitate their representative roles. It is accordingly within this context that civil servants are facilitated with union or association membership, and my Department, as administrator of the scheme, is not aware of any union or association which has been refused recognition having applied under the C&A Scheme.
