Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Ireland (Ratification: 1979)

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that its reply to the General Survey on social protection floors (2019) was transmitted to the Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), who were invited to send their comments back to the Government or directly to the ILO. The Committee notes the establishment of the ILO Interdepartmental Group in 2017, which includes the social partners and deals with ILO-related matters such as the prospect of ratifying unratified conventions. The Government adds that the ILO Interdepartmental Group held six meetings from March 2017 to September 2018. Regarding proposals to be made to the competent authority, the Government indicates that the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) is currently consulting with IBEC and the ICTU, through meetings and discussions held in the ILO Interdepartmental Group, on the proposed ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. It adds that discussions are also ongoing, with the participation of both social partners, on the proposed Convention and Recommendation on ending violence and harassment in the world of work, in view of the 2019 International Labour Conference. The Government indicates that unratified Conventions and Recommendations are also reviewed at appropriate intervals. It adds that, even though no proposals to denounce ratified Conventions have arisen since its last report, any denunciation of a ratified Convention would involve consultations with the social partners. Regarding reports to be made under article 22 of the ILO Constitution, the Government indicates that the DBEI forwards copies of all reports to IBEC and the ICTU, who are invited to provide their comments either to the DBEI or directly to the ILO. The Committee welcomes the information provided and requests the Government to provide updated information on the activities of the ILO Interdepartmental Group and to indicate the manner, frequency and outcome of tripartite consultations relevant to the Convention. It also requests the Government to continue to provide full particulars on the content and outcome of the consultations held on each of the matters related to international labour standards listed in Article 5(1) of the Convention. More particularly, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcome of the consultations held on the proposed ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930.