The Transposition of the European Information and Consultation Directive in Ireland

Abstract

In this report we examine a range of employee information and consultation mechanisms in 15 organisations in the Republic of Ireland. The research was conducted specifically in relation to the European Employee Information and Consultation Directive. While we note that many managerial respondents identified a positive link between employee consultation and organisational performance, the efficacy and interpretations of how these mechanisms operate in practice differed quite substantially according to employees. The evidence suggests that regulations contained in the European Directive provide the opportunities for more effective employee voice systems and the platform to extend representational rights at workplace level.