Johnny Guirke
Meath West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Extending the temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it needs to be extended until budget day and then reviewed. In my county of Meath, public transport options are limited and cars are necessity. For families, fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether for a car or to heat a home.”
“People are struggling right now. They cannot wait any longer. That is why Sinn Féin has called for an emergency budget to put €500 back in the pockets of workers, electricity credits worth €400, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures.”
“Since first being elected to the Dáil, I have repeatedly raised water outages in Trim, Clonard and Ballivor in County Meath. Outages and disruption are causing huge frustration for residents in these areas, and rightly so.”
“Just yesterday, parliamentary questions seeking answer on this issue from the Minister were disallowed, stating that the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil for this matter. Nobody is responsible for anything. Can the Taoiseach commit to coming back to me with a start date for the upgrade to Ballivor water storage project?”
“UEFA defends its stance by claiming that politics should play no part in sport but, hypocritically, has no problem in banning Russia from the competition. FIFA, UEFA and the Irish Government should not have put the football association in the position in which it finds itself.”
“As of 6 May 2026, more than 72,600 Palestinian had been directly killed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Thousands of those were women and children. The United Nations and many humanitarian organisations believe the Gaza health ministry’s figures to be a significant under count with thousands of Gazans still unaccounted for.”
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“While that correspondence was a welcome step forward, there was no mention of the Eir pensioners or of when the increase is going to be paid. In what month this year does the Minister of State expect An Post and Eir pensioners to get their agreed pension entitlements? They have worked hard all of their lives and are now being poorly treated by the State regarding their entitlements.”
“The lack of timely ministerial correspondence and action has left An Post and Eir pensioners stuck waiting for money that is rightfully theirs, undermining trust in both State institutions and the administration of pension schemes. Pensioners must not bear the brunt of political delays or bureaucratic inertia. I call for guaranteed, timely relief for pensioners and for the restoration of parity between pensioner's pay and active pay wherever possible. The current impasse risks compounding financial hardship for pensioners who already face rising costs of living, including higher heating bills, and constrained budgets. The Minister of State corresponded with the pensioners on Monday last. He signed off on the agreement but the Minister for Social Protection needs to do so as well.”
“We condemn the continued delay in implementing the agreed pension increase for An Post and Eir pensioners, despite a deal brokered between unions, including the Communications Workers' Union, An Post, Eir and Government officials. The agreement provides for payments to more than 7,000 affected An Post pensioners who remain without the payments they were promised. This delay contradicts the Government's stated commitment to protecting vulnerable pensioners and addressing the cost-of-living pressures currently being faced by them. The Communication Workers' Union secured what is widely recognised as a reasonable and overdue restoration of pension value but the pace of Government endorsement has undermined the very purpose of the agreement.”
“They have proceeded with works on sites without relevant permissions and contracts, leading to local authorities having to put huge resources into enforcement proceedings, which is often hindered as they are getting conflicting information from the potential accommodation provider and Government Departments. I cannot understand why the Government is so determined to sign up to the pact and then face fines for not meeting targets that we all know it is going to miss, as the target set out by the EU in the pact are unsustainable. If the Government plans to move towards State-led accommodation, this Bill in its current format will put a strain on Ireland’s capabilities to do that.”
“Very often we see the concerns of communities disregarded and that should not be the case. Massive profiteering continues and the decision by Government to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact in its entirety is a mistake. Our position in Sinn Féin is clear. We recognise the contributions of many who come here but also recognise the challenges that communities face with public services and housing. Very good points were raised by our Sinn Féin Deputies during the pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. Profiteering in the provision of accommodation must be ended. Accommodation providers have abused the system in place.”
“When loopholes are used, it creates uncertainty in communities. IPAS accommodation providers are making millions off the State by using these loopholes. Section 5 has been used to seek planning exemption for IPAS accommodation. These planning exemptions should be scrapped. Instead, there should be maximum engagement with communities to stop misinformation and fear being spread in good communities with good people. Sinn Féin has been clear from the outset that signing up to the EU asylum and migration pact is not in Ireland’s interest. This move undermines Ireland’s sovereignty and hands over more power to the EU to make unsustainable decisions for Ireland. Offers of accommodation should not be decided without consultation with communities and elected representatives and in areas with no services, GPs, school places, etc.”
“When these hotels are used for accommodation, it takes away local employment. These hotels are the only available accommodation in areas, which makes them important for local tourism in communities, as they support local restaurants, factories which have investors visiting, small shops and businesses. I welcome the previous commitment given to not use the only hotel in Oldcastle, a commitment I got on a number of occasions from the Minister and his Department. I thank him for his engagement on that. I understand that implementing the comprehensive accommodation strategy for international protection applicants is ongoing. However, loopholes that the Government and IPAS accommodation providers may use need to be looked at to protect the only hotel in towns and villages across Ireland.”
“This Bill is designed to legislate for Ireland’s decision to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact. We all know every country requires a functioning international protection system that is rules-based, fair, efficient and enforced. We are all very aware of the problems in the international protection system in Ireland, and the EU migration pact does nothing to support or take into account Ireland’s unique position as an EU member state that is part of the common travel area with a state outside of the EU. Communities are up in arms when it comes to the lack of information on where an IPAS centre is going to be located. The Government’s community engagement team allows misinformation, disinformation and concerns to grow within good communities. The Government gave a welcome commitment not to use the only hotel in a town.”
“This motion is about simple and practical changes. We need dedicated mental health emergency rooms in Meath with proper staffing. We also need crisis teams in the community and better services for children and young people. People dealing with mental health crises do not need noise, lights and crowds. They need calm, privacy and trained professionals. At their worst moment, the system should not make things harder and they should not be turned away but right now in Meath and across the State, that is exactly what is happening and the Government must take responsibility for that.”
“Families in Meath regularly have to travel to Drogheda with a loved one in crisis, only to wait hours in emergency departments that are already under pressure. Parents contact us about teenagers in distress being left sitting in waiting rooms all night. Gardaí are left minding people in crisis because there is nowhere else for them to go. This is a failure of planning and a failure of delivery by Government. We were promised proper mental health emergency facilities under Sharing the Vision but instead we have delays, under-staffing and people falling through the cracks. Mental health emergencies should be treated like any other emergency. If someone comes in with chest pain, he or she is seen quickly in the right setting but if someone comes in suicidal, he or she is often left waiting in chaos.”
“Every year, more than 50,000 people go to the emergency departments in Ireland because they are in mental health crisis. These are people who are scared, overwhelmed and often at the lowest point in their lives. What happens when they arrive? They are put into busy, noisy accident and emergency departments. They sit for hours on hard chairs or trolleys, with some left in corridors. Some have no private space to talk and others leave before being seen because it is just too much. The Mental Health Commission has clearly stated that international best practice is not available in most of our emergency departments. Hospitals do not even have proper rooms to access people in crisis. That is shocking in 2026.”
“People in Meath are paying significant tolls, with year-on-year increases, and the Government seems happy to sit back and allow this to happen. Congestion is getting worse. Just look at what is happening on the M50. The unreliable bus services in Meath, often described "ghost buses", leaves commuters waiting on the roadside for buses that never arrive. Despite these failures, some operators have recently been awarded new contracts. Many constituents in Meath have contacted me as they are struggling to get a date for an NCT for their car. Cases like this make the commute to work harder.”
“For years, Sinn Féin has argued that the right to request remote working should be judged on whether workers can have confidence that it compels employers to be fair, reasonable and consistent in their considerations. We remain unconvinced the code does this and we will be watching the outcome of the review with close attention. There is a practical side to this debate that ties directly into people's daily lives; namely, transport. Working from home has real benefits for our transport and road networks. It reduces congestion, lowers wears and tear on the roads and eases pressure on public transport systems. However, for many in County Meath, transport remains a persistent problem. Meath is known for its poor and unreliable transport links. Promises for the Navan rail line have been promised for years, yet tangible progress remains slow.”
“Some of the reasoning assessed, such as the inclusion of the distance between the worker's home and their place of work, is an overreach. There is also a checklist of measures for an employer to consider for a request, many of which appear designed to take power away from the worker. Workers must jump through a multitude of hoops to access remote working. Yet, these arrangements can be refused, changed, withdrawn or terminated with ease. Thankfully, the code of practice provides avenues for workers to vindicate their rights through the WRC.. Still, we fear the code has afforded too much power to employers to deny legitimate remote working requests.”
“It has helped many to remain in the workforce and opened doors for people across the country. A right to flexible work is a right to a more equal and modern economy. The right to request to work from home was a drawn out process, from the publication of the general scheme of the Bill on the right to request remote working in 2021 to the publication in the code of practice. At different stages, the legislation to deliver a right to request remote working was rewritten, amended and moved from one Department to another. We had reservations and worried that the code of practice published did not strike a fair balance between the rights of workers and the rights of businesses. The code gives workers the right to request remote working, a request that must be underpinned with a detailed explanation as to why they wish to work in this fashion.”
“Over the past few years, we have seen how working from home and the essential right to request remote and flexible work has had its benefits and the power to shape a fairer, more productive and more resilient economy if managed correctly. The Government is required by law to review the right to request remote working legislation through a public consultation. Since the right was introduced in March 2024, approximately 60 complaints have been made to the Workplace Relations Commission. This captures both the gains and the gaps we must address. For thousands of people, flexible and remote work has been life-changing. It is not a luxury but a necessity for working parents, those facing long commutes and people priced out of the housing market in major urban areas.”
“Stabilisation works require ministerial consent and even then the reopening hinges on a future date that is not defined. The public will not be able to access the interior of Cairn T in 2026 and the definitive timeline remains up in the air, with the site having been closed to the public since 2018. That is coming up on eight years now. I ask the three Ministers of State who have come and gone since I first raised this to honour their responsibilities, act with urgency and give Cairn T the urgent care it deserves. We owe it to all who stood on the hill of Loughcrew over the past 5,500 years. I ask for nothing less than action and a clear plan to once again open one Meath's biggest and best attractions.”
“I want to raise the issue of the neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath. These have some of the most beautiful examples of neolithic art in Ireland but remain closed to the public. I have dealt with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and now the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, on this. We do not seem to be getting anywhere. Fair play to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran; he is babysitting today. Maybe he can get him a full-time job at that. I have written on three occasions to the Minister of State who has responsibility for the OPW urging prompt action to secure the necessary works at Cairn T. After no response, I submitted a parliamentary question seeking accountability and a clear timeline, yet the reply I received concerns what many already feared.”
“I ask the Minister of State to support these organisations in Ireland that take part in search and rescue operations. These organisations are made up of volunteers who often do not get the credit or support they deserve from the State.”
“Meath River Rescue needs new equipment but there has to be funding in place for these sorts of organisations that assist in search and rescue. Its jet boat is ten years old. It is fair and essential to acknowledge the important parallel with organisations such as the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue, and the indispensable work of Meath River Rescue, Meath Civil Defence and the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery. It is crucial the Government ensure adequate supports are always available for these workers and volunteers, as well as consistent funding, access to equipment, regular training opportunities and reliable backup co-ordination. To every volunteer who has given up time, energy and sometimes employment opportunities to help others, we say, "Thank you." Your courage shines and is an inspiration to us all.”
“They spent close to 24 hours straight assisting walkers and runners, ensuring the safety of participants in the challenge. Meath Civil Defence and Meath River Rescue, along with Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery, local kayak clubs and many volunteers, have been out in my own constituency for weeks. They have been taking part and leading searches for a number of missing people. They cannot receive enough credit for their tireless efforts, always on call and never complaining. All they could do with is more help and sustained supports to ensure they can be assisted with these searches. Their courage needs support, resources, funding and ongoing training to keep them equipped for whatever challenges arise.”
“These volunteers give up days and weeks of their time and employment while carrying out searches, often in difficult or unpredictable conditions. Meath Civil Defence is a volunteer-based organisation that supports front-line emergency services and assists our local communities. It is a nationwide network with over 2,000 volunteers. They work alongside front-line responders in dealing with severe weather, flooding, major accidents, firefighting and the search for missing people. As well as these two organisations, I thank the front-line services and all the men and women in them working to ensure the safety of others. I have witnessed with deep gratitude the brilliant work of Meath Civil Defence and volunteers from neighbouring counties during the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge.”
“This evening, I want to recognise the hard work of the volunteers in Meath and right across the country. Among them are Meath River Rescue volunteers who have shown unwavering dedication day in, day out and are always on call. Meath River Rescue was established in 1996 by a group of local swimmers and divers who saw a need to protect and serve our waterway communities. The founders consisted of six members and the group has grown over time to its present membership of 25. In 2013, its headquarters was built in Navan, funded in conjunction with Meath Partnership. This facility stands as a sign of hope and readiness and is a home base for training, co-ordination and swift response. All Meath River Rescue members are volunteers.”
“I plead with the Minister of State to make the right decision and intervene to protect these five homebuyers and families who remain and want their contracts, legally binding agreements, honoured in the middle of a housing crisis.”
“Residents believe this case exposes how existing company and receivership law allows directors to manipulate processes at the expense of ordinary homebuyers. I have seen developments delayed in different towns. Developers are hoping that homebuyers pull out of legally binding contracts so they can get the current market value for houses they are building, which is at an all-time high and increasing. If the price decreased in value, the developer would expect contracts to be honoured. It should be the same the other way around. I ask the Minister of State again to intervene here so these homebuyers can move into their homes. The way they are being treated is appalling. The flaws in Ireland's housing regulation and receivership system are being taken advantage of.”
“As State support has been drawn down on these houses, I believe the Minister of State can intervene and that we need to intervene. I visited the site in Ringfort last Friday and blocks were being delivered to complete works on the boundary wall. This site is nearly complete, which begs the question why the developer would continue to work on the site if it is going to liquidate it. Yesterday we attended a meeting with the liquidator, the developer and the homebuyers. The homebuyers left the meeting with many question unanswered. The homes they paid deposits on are built, the lights are on but five years after giving deposits, some with the help to buy scheme as the Minister of State said, the doors are still locked for the five families who just want to move into their forever homes.”
“Even if these families had their deposits returned, they simply can no longer purchase houses at today's prices, which essentially leaves them homeless. One couple stated how ordinary people can do everything right and still lose. They have gone through every proper channel, kept every line of communication open and offered compromise after compromise, and still no progress has been made. The families who signed contracts for these homes are asking for accountability. I first brought this up nearly two and a half years ago. I ask the Minister of State to intervene and contact the Revenue Commissioners and his Department to step in and ensure the homebuyers' contracts are honoured after five years. Will he meet the five families affected as soon as possible? These families are close to losing everything they have worked so hard for.”
“Now in 2025, a liquidator has been appointed, plunging everything back into chaos. The homebuyers face the prospect of losing the homes they paid deposits and signed contracts for. The financial stress and emotional toll has been immense on the five homebuyers who did not pull out of their contracts. They have spent thousands of euro in rent since 2020, not to mention storage cost and lost savings. One family from the group was evicted from their rental home earlier this year and is now living in a single bedroom with their young child. Another couple lives less than 200 yards from the Ringfort site and every time they pass it, they say they feel a mix of heartbreak and anger. Their contracts, you would guess, are legally binding. They have paid deposits and the homes are built, but these families cannot move in.”
“One couple signed their contract in July 2021 and were told to expect completion within 18 months, by the end of 2022. That never happened. What began as small delays soon spiralled into a nightmare for these buyers. In early 2023, they were told by the developer that each buyer would need to pay an additional €60,000 to make the project viable. It was extortion. In May 2024, it was agreed to pay an additional €26,000 each to help move things along. A letter confirming this agreement was sent to solicitors. It was not subject to contract; it was open correspondence. The homebuyers accepted and signed, believing the end was near. By late 2024, every house on the site was structurally complete. The utilities were connected. All that remained were the final road surfacing and landscaping works.”
“I am a little disappointed that the senior Minister for housing is not here to answer on this very important issue. The Ringfort development in Rathmolyon, County Meath, has been plagued by mismanagement, delay tactics and questionable dealings that have left five families locked out of their homes for more than five years. It has been more than five years since couples put a booking deposit down on a home in the development. They signed contracts on homes that were being built and, instead of being in their new homes, they spent the past five years trapped in limbo, paying rent, storing furniture and living with a constant sense of uncertainty and frustration. They paid their initial €5,000 deposit in October 2020, followed by a balance of €24,500 in early 2021.”
“Franchise owners who recently bought into the franchise with Fastway have bought vans on finance and spent €50,000-plus on the franchise. Now they are left with repayments they cannot meet. Those affected feel like they are being left in the dark. They are fearful that red tape will stop them getting fair payments. Will the Minister ensure the Government does all to support the workers and franchise owners to make sure they are not forgotten about and to protect workers' rights throughout this receivership process?”
“As the Minister knows, these workers and all those impacted deserve clear communication and support from both the company and the Government. Some franchisees have invested heavily to establish their franchises. This must be taken into consideration. Workers need an income and certainty. The Government must engage with the receiver and ensure that all avenues are explored to safeguard jobs, protect workers and ensure those owed money are not left behind. Senator Maria McCormack and Councillor Claire Murray hosted a public meeting for the workers and subcontractors affected by the closure of Fastway's Portarlington depot. People travelled all the way from Cork, Donegal and all over Ireland to join a jam-packed room.”
“I recently met the affected Fastway workers who were protesting outside Leinster House. I heard first hand from the employees. Can I ask the Minister to meet all those affected and listen to their concerns?”
“In the run-up to Christmas, many of the Fastway workers do not know how they will cope. Rose Conway-Walsh, Senator Maria McCormack, Councillor Claire Murray and I have been meeting every few days and more on these issues as well as on the issues arising that franchise owners are experiencing. Councillor Murray spoke to a franchise owner and issues are coming up regarding the franchise agreement. The way these franchise owners have been treated could be a national scandal. This receivership announcement is devastating for all affected workers, subcontractors and their families. The timing of this decision could not have been worse. Families are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and many now face the real fear of losing their income in the run-up to Christmas.”
“We will not abandon the principle that workers should have control over their own careers. We will continue to advocate for a system where a worker at 65 can choose to retire with their pension or continue working with terms that respect their experience and contributions. We ask the Minister of State to ensure any Bill before us preserves the rights of workers to work on their own terms and guarantee that those who wish to keep contributing do so on fair and secure conditions, while those who retire can do so with dignity and full pension rights. We welcome the Bill but urge the Minister of State to listen to his constituents and the public, who want the choice of retiring at 65 with dignity and security or staying in the workforce, if that is their decision.”
“With that income gap comes stress, uncertainty and a squeeze on families already facing the pressures of the rising cost of living. When workers are pushed out, it is not just a pay cheque that vanishes. The social connections, daily routine and sense of purpose that come from being part of a team can also disappear. We must protect those bonds and support mental health by ensuring fair terms and keeping doors open to continued employment, if that is what a person wants. We stand with workers and we want to work on their terms with employers who want to retain the experience and energy of their seasoned staff, and with a government that will not duck this issue. It is time to commit to a policy that respects choice, protects earned benefits and recognises the value of a life spent contributing to the working environment.”
“If you want to stay on and contribute your knowledge and skills, you should not be forced out because of age or face a change in terms and conditions that undermines your well-earned security. I welcome this Bill because it aligns with our long-standing goal of removing mandatory retirement clauses and restoring real choice to workers. The freedom to decide to retire or continue working must belong to the individual, not to a corporate policy or outdated rules that deny people agency over their own lives. After a lifetime of work, people deserve the chance to retire with their pension at 65 or to carry on contributing. Right now, too many are pushed out of jobs and into unemployment long before reaching pension eligibility.”
“I heard a story from a worker who wanted to stay beyond retirement age but found signing a new contract meant different terms and conditions which left him worse off after a lifetime of service. We must ensure no one is forced to accept worse conditions simply because of their age. The right to continue working must be safeguarded, not traded away in the fine print of a new agreement. The heart of our position is simple: every person should be able to decide how to shape their own life after years of hard work. Sinn Féin supports, firmly and clearly, the right to retire at 65 with a full pension and the equally important right to keep working, if that is what a person desires. Too long and too often, workers have had mandatory retirement ages written into their contracts.”
“For years, Sinn Féin has stood with the men and women who have built our economy from the ground up. We have championed the right to retire at 65, a milestone earned through decades of hard work and dedication. Yet we also recognise a simple truth: life does not always fit a single blueprint. Some people want to keep contributing, learning and shaping our world, even after 65, and they should have that option without being pushed out of their jobs or onto a less secure footing. The decision to retire is deeply personal. It is not one size fits all. Each person's health, job, finances and hopes for the years ahead come into play. Health can be a friend or a foe in this journey. It can open doors to more flexible work or make a longer career challenging.”
“The new agreement explicitly excludes reimbursement for blister packs, despite acknowledging the importance of medicine optimisation. Pharmacies currently absorb the costs of preparing these packs, including time, staff and materials. This is not sustainable in the long term. Will the Taoiseach commit to recommendations to reinstate reimbursement for blister packs and amend the community pharmacy agreement to include reimbursement for the supply and preparation of monitored dosage systems for patients on multiple long-term medicines or with cognitive impairments?”
“The recently published Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 outlines new service provisions and funding models for community pharmacies. Two areas of particular concern are the exclusion of blister packs or monitored dosage systems, MDS, from reimbursement under the agreement and restrictive provisions on phased dispensing, limiting its use and removing reimbursement in some cases. These omissions undermine safe medicines management for vulnerable patients and place additional strain on pharmacies, many of which currently provide these supports on a goodwill basis without funding. Blister packs or MDS help patients manage complex medication regimes safely and independently, reducing errors and hospital admissions.”
“It sounds a bit hypocritical to me and as usual the party remains on the fence. It is no wonder it is better known as "Abstaintú". Many people died for the right to vote and their sacrifice should never be forgotten. We acknowledge there are flaws in the electoral process but perhaps the Electoral Commission should be tasked with examining the nomination system in future. In 2011 Sinn Féin did not have enough Members to get Martin McGuinness on the ballot, but we worked with a number of Oireachtas Members to get him nominated. Many people who failed to get on the ballot this time did not even contact the same Oireachtas Members and local authorities they were seeking support from, but when you get bad advice this is what happens.”
“These citizens are as Irish as you or me. They live on the island yet cannot vote in presidential elections despite being eligible to stand in them, should they receive a nomination. In 2019 the Government set a referendum on extending voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad and in the North, but it was later delayed. Last May in the Assembly a Sinn Féin motion calling for Irish citizens in the North to have the right to vote in presidential elections in the Republic was carried 46 to 25. With so many Irish citizens in the North and all over the world wishing they could vote in the Irish presidential election and Aontú putting on the front it is fighting for people’s right to vote, you would imagine it would encourage people to vote in the upcoming election. Instead Deputy Tóibín has said on the Plinth he may not vote.”
“After being forced out of the country due to the high cost of living, housing, etc., many Irish citizens feel they should at least have the right to vote in elections, especially the presidential election. In 2013 the constitutional convention recommended extending votes in presidential elections to citizens living outside the Republic of Ireland, a position officially supported by the Government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We tabled legislation to give effect to this recommendation in 2014 and the Bill passed First and Second Stages. We have retabled the Bill in every Dáil since. Sinn Féin is the largest party in the Thirty-two Counties. People in the North have always felt abandoned by the Government in the South. Denying them the right to vote in presidential elections has been another right denied.”
“Presidential voting rights need to be extended to all Irish citizens living in the Thirty-two Counties. It is also important these voting rights are extended to Irish citizens abroad. Last week I hosted Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland who gave a presentation at a cross-party briefing on issues affecting returning Irish citizens. Many issues they face came up and one of the key ones was voting rights for the Irish living abroad. Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny promised presidential voting rights to the Irish in America during his 2016 St. Patrick’s Day visit to the United States, but no progress has been made on that commitment.”
“It can also create a safe working environment and protect workers from corporate manslaughter and dangerous working conditions.”
“Recently, SIPTU wrote to three Ministers calling for their urgent intervention to ensure the reappointment under warranty of a Labour Court deputy chairman and warned that failure to do so would seriously diminish that body's effectiveness and likely lead to a greater number of industrial disputes. I am urging the Minister of State to stop turning away from workers and their rights and ensure protections are always in place for workers. Turning a blind eye to these services will affect thousands of workers across the country who will be denied the right to a prompt resolution of their personal workplace issues under employment law. Strengthening joint labour committees is a commitment to fair pay, decent working conditions and a more resilient economy.”
“The Minister, Deputy Burke, is expected to make an announcement in the near future and workers and unions are hoping it is a step in the right direction for collective bargaining, a pledge he signed before the general election. A strong, enforceable framework gives workers a seat at the table, ensures that pay and conditions reflect the true value of their labour, and helps create stable, productive workplaces with fewer turnovers of staff. It also signals to the economy and to international partners that Ireland is serious about fair working standards. We want to empower and support workers, and rebalance the power dynamics that govern industrial relations.”
“In practical terms, this means no more breakdowns in communication due to a single party's veto and the balance of power is realigned to ensure workers' voices are heard. Credible collective bargaining is the backbone of fair work. It reduces the race to the bottom, where pay and working conditions are undercut in pursuit of cost cutting, and it strengthens the social contract between workers and the businesses that rely on their labour. It provides certainty for employers who compete on quality and reliability, not just on cheapest bids. We must also recognise the broader context; the need for legislatively protected collective bargaining has never been greater.”
“The current situation is troubling. In some industries, the formation and operation of joint labour committees hinge on the willingness of employer bodies to engage in consultation. Where those bodies refuse or fail to participate, the joint labour committees process can stall, giving a de facto veto power to those who would rather race to the bottom than invest in decent pay and safe, regulated working conditions. That is not acceptable in today's modern economy when so many workers are dealing with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The Bill seeks to address this by empowering the Labour Court to appoint employer or worker representatives to a joint labour committee when the relevant organisations fail or refuse to engage.”