An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Conor Murphy (SF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I join my Seanad colleague in acknowledging the events for workers this week. This is trade union week, leading up to the May Day celebrations. We acknowledge the workers who have lost their lives in very dangerous circumstances. As she says, such instances have thankfully lessened over the years. Yesterday, there was a similar ceremony at Stormont which I had the privilege of speaking at over a number of years. It is important on both sides of the Border to acknowledge that and to acknowledge the sacrifices workers have had to make at times to pledge to ensure conditions continue to improve for workers right across the island.
Earlier, there was a presentation in the audiovisual room from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions about its quality employment and good jobs document and the promotion of a new economic model. It made the case that good jobs should be at the heart of the economy. It is not simply about pay; it is about conditions and having a supported and fulfilled workforce, which is a key component for any successful business. The quality jobs argument includes a legal right to collective bargaining, a legal right for trade unions to access workplaces and greater supports for workplace representatives. As I said, that not only improves the conditions of those in the workplace but has been proven in many studies to give a much more effective, motivated and collaborative workforce. It is of benefit to public sector or private sector businesses to ensure workers are treated correctly in the correct fashion. The ask of the Government is to fully implement the EU adequate minimum wages directive. The programme for Government committed the Government to publish an action plan for collective bargaining in 2025 as part of the fulfilment of the EU directive. That remains outstanding. We are midway through 2026 so I would appreciate it if the Leader would raise a query as to where we are with that with the relevant Government Ministers and what the cause of that delay might be.
The trade union leaders from ICTU also made reference to the fact that even though we often lag behind on a number of things on the Northern side of Border, in this case my colleague, Caoimhe Archibald, is beginning to bring the good jobs Bill through the Assembly to put it into legislation.
It will put the rights of workers and unions in the workplace at a much more advanced stage than is the case across the rest of Ireland. There are some lessons that could be learned from that legislation. It moves things in advance of anything that obtains in Britain as well. There are good measures that can be brought in. ICTU is an all-Ireland body and it wants to see standards collectively raised across Ireland for all workers. I ask the Leader to specifically check those points and to offer our support and solidarity for all workers in this trade union week.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28