Robert Troy
Question:165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the proposals being considered to strengthen social dialogue. [41589/19]
View answerThursday, 10 October 2019
Questions (165)
Written answers
The nature and intensity of social dialogue in Ireland has changed considerably over the past four decades and particularly since the demise of the model of tripartite Social Partnership at the end of 2009. During the deep economic recession over subsequent years, social dialogue where it occurred, tended to be on a bilateral rather than on a tripartite basis.
As Ireland emerged from recession the Government in 2016 established the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) to bring together representatives of employers, trade unions and Government to discuss economic, employment and labour market issues. The Forum, which is chaired by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Minister Paschal Donohoe, meets approximately 4 times a year. The first meeting each year is chaired by the Taoiseach. The Forum provides a consultative informal structure for an exchange of views and dialogue on economic and social policies insofar as they affect employment and the workplace.
Furthermore, as part of the Government’s Budgetary process for the last 4 years, under the auspices of the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, a National Economic Dialogue (NED) has taken place. This year's event was held in Dublin Castle on 26-27th June.
The Government will continue to work through LEEF and NED to strengthen the resilience of the economy and maximise opportunities to prepare our economy for the challenges ahead.