Ireland
Ireland ratified the European Social Charter on 07/10/1964 and the Revised European Social Charter on 04/11/2000, accepting 92 of the 98 paragraphs of the Revised Charter.
Ireland ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints procedure on 04/11/2000. It has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The Charter in domestic law
Ireland is a dualist state.
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by Ireland
See previous reports in respect of Ireland
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning Ireland (Thematic group Labour rights)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning Ireland (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning Ireland (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2017 concerning Ireland (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
See all conclusions in respect of Ireland (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of Ireland
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by Ireland
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.11 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
1 Sub-paragraph c not accepted
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
- 1st Report on the non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Irlande, 4 October 2005
- 2nd Report on the non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Irlande, 2012
- 3rd Report on the non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Ireland, 2016
Collective complaints procedure
Ireland ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints procedure on 04/11/2000. It has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The complaint registered on 8 August 2016, relates to Article 6 (Right to bargain collectively) of the Revised European Social Charter. The organisation, ICTU, complains that certain workers - deemed self employed - such as voice over actors, free lance journalists, and some musicians, are precluded from entering into collective agreements setting out minimum rates of pay and other working conditions, as this would amount to a breach of competition law, in violation of the above mentioned provision.
Case-document no. 1, Complaint registered on 8 August 2016
Case-document no. 2, Observations by the Government on admissibility
Case-document no. 3, Submissions of the Government on the merits
Case-document no. 4, Observations by the International Organisation of Employers
Case-document no. 5, Response from the ICTU to the Government's submissions on the merits
Case-document no. 6, Further response from the Government on the merits
Case-document no. 7, Additional observations from the ICTU
Case-document no. 8, Additional observations from the Government
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 24 March 2017.
Decision on admissibility of Complaint 123/2016
Decision on the merits of Complaint 123/2016
Resolution CM/ResChS(2018)11 of the Committe of Ministers of 12 December 2018
Previous national reports by Ireland
- 20th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2021).
Comments submitted by the European Organisation of Military Association and Trade Unions (EUROMIL) - Government of Ireland response to EUROMIL comments
Comments submitted by Community action Network (CAN) and the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy (CHLRP)
Comments submitted by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - Government of Ireland response to IHREC comments - 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020).
Comments by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - Government of Ireland response to IHREC comments on IE's National Report
Comments by the ICTU - Government of Ireland response to ICTU comments on IE's National Report - 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019).
Comments by the Community Action Network
Comments by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Comments on the 18th National Report of Ireland on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the European Organisation of Military Association and Trade Unions (EUROMIL)
Comments submitted by the Irish Traveller Movement
Government of Ireland response to NGO comments on IE's National Report - 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018).
Comments from the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions (EUROMIL)
Comments from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Comments from the CAN and centre for housing law, rights and policy research,NUI Galway - 16th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017). Conclusions published in 2019
Comments from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Reply to the comments made by the CAN and Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy Research, NUI Galway - 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016). Conclusions published in 2018
Comments from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - 14th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2012-31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017
Comments from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission - 13th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2011-31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016
- 12th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015
- 11th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014
- 10th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013
Addendum to the 10th report
Comments from the Irish LGBT Network and ILGA Europe on the 10th Report - 9th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland(fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2007-31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012
9th report. Reply on Article 1§2
Comments on the 9th report by Irish Congress of Trade Unions - 8th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011
NGO report on the 8th report
Response from the Government to the NGO comments - 7th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 4th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Ireland (Reference Period: 01/01/2001 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions published in 2007