Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2016
25. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of interactions and meetings she has had and held with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions specifically concerning Brexit; if she has formally requested that the Government working group on Brexit meet with the ICTU on a regular basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32943/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with a wide range of representative organisations since the result of the UK referendum in June
In early October I met with ICTU senior executives and other Union representatives in the context of my preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs for 2017. At that meeting we did discuss the concerns of ICTU in relation to Brexit, and the issues raised are being considered in conjunction with other Departments, and the agencies under the remit of my own Department, in the preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs and other initiatives.
In addition, together with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I co-chair the new Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), of which the President of ICTU, Patricia King is a member. The LEEF held its first meeting in early October which was opened by the Taoiseach, and of course a number of Brexit related issues of concern were discussed.
In July I, together with Minister of State Pat Breen, held a meeting with ICTU officials, and the issue of Brexit was also raised in relation to the risk to pay and conditions for workers and the need for Ireland to manage this development.
