Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council began this week, on Wednesday 1st July. The six-month rotating Presidency will see Ireland take on numerous sensitive legislative dossiers and host high-profile international events.    

Last week, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) called again on the Government to put workers’ rights and the creation of good, secure jobs at the centre of Ireland’s EU Presidency. 

ICTU said the Government has a rare opportunity to embed job quality, fair pay and strong collective bargaining into the EU’s agenda for years to come, with key legislative packages on the table during the Irish Presidency, notably the Quality Jobs Act and the next phase of the Multiannual Financial Framework. 

ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy said: “Ireland has an enormous responsibility over the next six months, chairing negotiations that will shape the lives of workers across this continent. A Presidency that focuses solely on ceremony and Ireland’s diplomatic standing will be a missed opportunity.” 

“The Irish Government must use this time to ensure the European Union is delivering for working people. We want to see real progress on the Quality Jobs agenda, the enforcement of pay transparency and collective bargaining commitments.”  

Congress also raised concerns about the proposed ‘28th regime’ for company law, which would create an optional EU-wide alternative to national company law. ICTU said the regime must not become a back door for employers to sidestep national labour law, collective bargaining and worker participation rights, and that any Irish Presidency progress on the file must include the safeguards on employee representation. 

Owen concluded by urging the Government to ensure workers’ voices are present in negotiations, saying: “Every directive negotiated and every compromise brokered under this Presidency will be felt in workplaces here and across Europe. We intend to make sure the voice of working people is not lost in that process." 

Earlier this year Fórsa made the same call in its submission to the public consultation on Ireland’s EU Presidency and in stakeholder engagement meetings with Minister for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne TD. 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said: “The EU Presidency is an important moment for Ireland, and many Fórsa members will be working to ensure it is a success."

“It’s also a chance for Ireland to take an ambitious, proactive approach to tackling the interconnected crises impacting people all across Europe, from housing to the cost of living, the fuel crisis and climate change. No one country can solve these issues alone, and working together at the European level is critical.” 

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