Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2022
49. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 6 April 2022, the status of Ireland’s ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention C190, Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work; the status of the planned consultation on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25308/22]
View answerAs an International Labour Organisation (ILO) Member State, Ireland is committed to ratifying Convention C190.
Ratification is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. Ireland does not ratify international conventions until it has been determined that national law is in line with the provisions of the international instrument.
The ILO Convention 190 is the first ever international instrument on the very important issues of eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. Ireland already has very strong protections in law to combat violence and harassment in the world of work and has ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Officials in my Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment have engaged with all relevant Government Departments and offices to establish the extent to which domestic legislative provisions already provide for the rights and entitlements included in the ILO Convention C190, as well as legislative amendments, if any, that may be required to enable ratification.
Based on legal advice recently received, a comprehensive gap analysis is being progressed to assess if there are any gaps in the State’s legislation with the articles of the Convention and to ensure that the obligations placed on the State by those articles are fully met, this was deemed necessary due to the range and complexity of legislation covered by the Convention.
Following this consideration, as part of the ratification process, in the coming months the Department will undertake a stakeholder consultation with trade unions, employer representative bodies and other interested parties.
The views of the Attorney General must then be sought after that consultation phase followed by the formal approval of the Government for ratification.
I would anticipate that the Instrument of Ratification can be signed before the end of the year.
