A plan to increase workers' statutory sick leave from five to seven days have been paused by the Government.
The issue was discussed by Cabinet this morning and a decision was taken not to proceed with the proposal.
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke told the Government that certain sectors would be hit hard if the sick leave days were extended.
These include the retail and hospitality sectors where research has indicated it could increase payroll costs by up to 0.6% annually.
The Labour said: "Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's row back on this most basic of workers’ rights is as predictable as it is misguided.
"Government would be better served supporting businesses with a European-style targeted short time work scheme than breaking their election promises to workers with what is only a modest advance on very basic improvements to sick leave entitlements."
Report into housing on public land before Cabinet
Minister for Housing James Browne was due to bring a report from the Land Development Agency on its latest assessment of the potential for housing development on public lands this year to a meeting of the Cabinet this morning.
The LDA first provided such a report for Government in 2023.
It breaks down publicly-owned sites into how much investment would be required on them to develop housing, from least constrained to moderately and significantly constrained.
It is understood that Minister Browne could also bring the new National Planning Framework for ministerial consideration.
Minister for Enterprise and Employment Peter Burke is expected to bring a recommendation to the Cabinet regarding a proposal to give employees two extra days of paid sick leave.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe told RTÉ Radio's This Week programme on Sunday that the possibility of the implementation being paused was under examination.
In a joint memo with the Department of Housing, Minister Burke will also present a plan regarding a short-term letting register.
It is understood the Department of Enterprise will be responsible for creating and managing the register, with the Department of Housing looking after the policy side.
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien will update Government on the ESB Networks Winter 2025 Resilience Plan, which was instructed by the Government after Storm Éowyn earlier this year.
The storm, in late January, resulted in almost 770,000 homes, farms and businesses losing power.
The 2025 Resilience Plan sets out actions across a number of key areas, including removing potential hazards, surveying, resourcing and innovation to build resilience in the electricity network for the winter ahead.
A key component of the plan relates to the standards that safeguard electricity infrastructure when passing through forestry.
Minister O’Brien, who also holds the Transport brief, will seek sign off from the Cabinet on the final business case for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project.
Cork County Council, under the direction of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, will now enter a contract for construction works beginning this month, with a 36-month deadline for completion of the 10.9km of dual carriageway motorway.
The N28 has seen 18 collisions that involved fatal or serious injuries in recent years.
Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless will seek approval from ministers to align education support for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection with those for Irish citizens.
Ukrainian "BOTPs" have been supported through a range of measures, including a Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme and a Financial Stipend for Full-time Higher Education BOTPs.
A Government decision on October 2022, agreed that there should be equitable treatment with Irish citizens, and supports are therefore now being amended to reflect this decision, effective from enrolment in September 2025.
Minister Lawless also hopes Government will sign off on a significant expansion of Ireland’s aircraft mechanic apprenticeship programme, with training places set to double from 79 in 2024 to up to 160 by September 2025.
The memo outlines the move as a direct response to global demand for skilled aircraft maintenance engineers.
With Ireland managing around 60% of the world’s leased aircraft, the country already plays a central role in global aviation, with the sector valued at €370 million and supports more than 3,200 jobs.
'Short-sighted'
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said the decision to pause increased sick leave was both a mistake and short-sighted.
"This is an appalling decision which will affect the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in the economy," said Owen Reidy, ICTU General Secretary.
"Many of the people affected by this are the same people in hospitality and retail that were being lauded as front-line workers during Covid-19."
"Covid-19 highlighted the glaring discrepancy whereby Ireland, a wealthy country, was out of line in comparison to so many other similar countries in not providing a modest and basic amount of statutory sick leave," Mr Reidy said.
SIPTU described the decision as unacceptable and an attack on workers' rights.
"The Government must review its decision not to implement the increase from five to seven days and should live up to its election commitments rather than backtrack on them," said SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis.
"These workers are already struggling in many cases, with the ongoing cost of living crisis and the impact of the current economic volatility caused by the Trump Administration’s tariffs programme," he added.
Setback for people 'struggling to make ends meet', says Cosgrove
Opposition parties have criticised the sick leave decision delay, with Labour's workers' rights spokesperson Senator Nessa Cosgrove describing the development as a significant setback for people "already struggling to make ends meet".
"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's predictable rollback on this basic entitlement is both misguided and unjust," she said.
"The reality for most people is that they simply can’t afford to be sick.
"Bills still need to be paid, and families need to be fed."
"We must break this cycle where individuals are forced to choose between going to work while ill or losing a portion of their income," Senator Cosgrove said.
She added: "Sick pay is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right.
"Across the EU, 22 countries, as well as the UK, already have statutory sick pay.
"Ireland remains one of only a few EU members that does not recognise this essential right."
The concern was mirrored by SIPTU deputy general secretary Greg Ennis, who said the delay is the "second time the Government has refused to implement the entitlements contained within its own legislation".
"To pause its sequential increase as provided for in the 2022 legislation is merely a sop to employers and a kick in the teeth for workers," he said.
"These workers are already struggling in many cases, with the ongoing cost of living crisis and the impact of the current economic volatility caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs programme.
"The Government must review its decision not to implement the increase from five to seven days and should live up to its election commitments rather than backtrack on them."
