Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail any proposals or plans to deal with the issues regarding the representative rights of retired workers; if he will support the passage to Committee stage of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31601/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment met in public session on the 25 January 2023 to discuss detailed scrutiny of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021. Following this meeting, my Department issued a detailed brief to the Joint Committee to assist with their detailed scrutiny of the Bill.
At the Second Stage debate on the Bill, the former Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail outlined my Department's concerns in relation to the proposed Bill and these serious concerns remain.
As the Deputy will be aware, Minister Coveney and I met with a groups of representatives advocating for this Bill on 19 April. We heard the various concerns and undertook to examine what protections defined pensions schemes have in the UK. The Minister also undertook to engage with the group before the summer recess.
