The Brussels European Employee Relations Group (BEERG) has written to Enterprise Minister and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to raise concerns over the legislation that deals with disputes between European Works Councils (EWC) and management in Ireland, The Times reports.

Across the EU, EWCs can be established in firms so that workers can be informed and consulted by management on the progress of the business and any major decisions that could affect their working conditions.

Disputes may arise over who can sit on the council and what information employee representatives are entitled to from their employers. 

Tom Hayes, BEERG executive director, said: “BEERG has been recommending to members for some time that they move their EWCs from the UK to Ireland as part of our Brexit preparations.

“While we continue to recommend a move to Ireland, we have some serious concerns in relation to the current Irish legislative arrangements for the resolution of disputes which may arise between the EWC and central management.”

Such disputes, he said, were “not uncommon” and when they arose it was important that “effective arrangements are available”.

There have been plans for at least 30 EWCs to move to Ireland since Brexit.

Mr Hayes said: “Some have already done so. We in BEERG know of another 30 plus major multinationals now planning to make the switch, but we believe the final number will be significantly higher than that.

“From our own analysis and from the senior legal advice we have received, it appears that the statutory dispute resolution processes provided for under the legislation may be deficient and out of line with those available elsewhere in Europe in many important respects.”