The right to join a union is guaranteed by law, as is the right to refrain from joining. The Industrial Relations Act of 1990 prohibits retribution against strikers and union leaders. About 55 percent of workers in the public sector and 45 percent in the private sector are trade union members. The right to strike is freely exercised in both the public and private sectors. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which represents unions in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, has 65 member unions with 682,000 members.
Legislation prohibits antiunion discrimination.
In recent years, most terms and conditions of employment in Ireland are determined through collective bargaining in the context of a national economic pact. Employer interests in labor matters are generally represented by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. By law, children are required to attend school until the age of 15. The law limits the number of hours which children under age 18 may work. These provisions are enforced effectively by the Department of Enterprise and Employment.