Tá ceist agam ort, a Aire, maidir leis an dréacht-Bhille atá faoi chomhairliúchán agat i láthair na huaire.

[Translation: I have a question for you, Minister, about the draft Bill that is out for consultation at present.]

T2. Mr Kearney asked the Minister for the Economy to update the House on the consultation on the employment Bill, given that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other social partners have high expectations for the Bill. (AQT 622/22-27)

The Member may be aware that the consultation closed on 30 September. We had 192 responses to the consultation, which is quite significant. As I am sure that the Member is aware, we did a lot of pre-consultation, as well as the consultation during the process, and will continue the dialogue with those organisations, particularly business organisations and trade unions. Those have been productive conversations. Where we have managed, on many occasions now, to get trade unions into the room with business organisations, those have been productive conversations because they lead to a much greater understanding of the balance between protecting workers' rights and the needs of businesses at times. We will obviously assess the responses to the consultation, and we will begin the legislative process next year with the clear intent to bring the Bill through the Assembly processes before the mandate is out.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin.

[Translation: I thank the Minister for that answer.]

I commend you, Minister, on the depth of your commitment to engaging with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other social partners, and for your commitment to social dialogue, which is a critical model for how we move forward the development of economic policy in this region. Will you give an assurance that, beyond the consultation and the introduction of the Bill, you will continue to refine that engagement with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other partners?

I have made a commitment, in my previous ministerial posts and, certainly, in this one, to co-design as it is the best way to develop policy, be it on employment rights, with the trade unions and business organisations, or any of the areas in which we are trying to develop and grow the economy. That is why we set up a co-design group for social enterprise and have working groups on tourism and other matters: those engagements reflect the best. Policy is strongest when you engage with the people who are at the coalface and are on the receiving end of that policy. I am absolutely committed to that, and I very much value the input of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in that and in a range of areas that the Department has been dealing with. I look forward to continued engagement with it.