Written answer
EU Directives
The Department is assessing amendments and consultation arrangements to transpose the revised European Works Council Directive by the 1 January 2028 deadline.
307. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the process concerning the transposition of Directive (EU) 2025/2450 of 26 November 2025 amending Directive 2009/38/EC as regards the establishment and operation of European Works Councils and the effective enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights; whether the transposition will require amending the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996; whether a timeline is in place concerning the transposition of the directive; and if not; when a timeline will be available; and to outline the consultation process. [67736/26]
Comment on this
The revised European Works Council (EWC) Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 11 December 2025, entered into force on 31 December 2025, and must be transposed by 1 January 2028.
Officials from my Department participated in the European Commission Expert Group on the implementation and transposition of Directive 2025/2450 and it is anticipated that the Commission will soon publish the group’s Expert Report on transposition, which will comprise a valuable source of guidance for Member States throughout the transposition process.
Regarding potential amendments to the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act (TICEA) 1996, officials in my Department are currently conducting a gap analysis, and examining the precise requirements to ensure the full and faithful transposition of the 2025 amending Directive.
My Department is committed to the timely implementation of the Directive, and as such is taking the necessary steps to ensure that all key milestones of the transposition process are completed in good time, with the deadline of 1 January 2028 taken into account. Details of, for example, the consultation arrangements and legislative measures will be communicated as the work progresses.
Consultation will be an important element of informing the Department’s approach to the transposition of the Directive. Department officials are currently assessing the possibility of a public consultation to seek the views of all stakeholders. Should such a consultation be undertaken, details will be published in due course. My Department will engage with relevant stakeholders throughout the transposition process.
My Department is committed to the timely and effective transposition and implementation of the revised European Works Council (EWC) Directive and fully intends to meet the EU transposition deadline of 1 January 2028.