9th June 2026
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon today attended the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, the main decision-making body of the International Labour Organisation, where he led Ireland’s tripartite delegation comprising government, worker and employer representatives.
Through its tripartite structure of governments, employers and workers, the ILO promotes decent work by setting standards, providing guidance, and promoting fair and safe workplaces worldwide.
Minister Dillon delivered a plenary address in response to the Director-General’s report, A moment of choice: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work. Speaking in Geneva, Minister Dillon said:
“The most durable and positive outcomes continue to be achieved when employers, workers and the governments advance together in partnership.”
“this is where the ILO, with its tripartite structure and normative mandate, is uniquely placed to facilitate collaboration on these vital issues.”
While visiting the Conference, the Minister engaged with participants leading negotiations on the proposal to develop a new labour standard on decent work in the platform economy and he encouraged all those involved to approach the standard-setting process constructively, reflecting the changing nature of work. Addressing the topic of harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work, Minister Dillon noted in his plenary address that
“the challenge is not simply technological adoption in itself, but ensuring that this transformation advances decent work, supports competitiveness, and secures benefits that are broadly shared across our societies.”
Ireland also co-hosted an event on Monday 8 June to mark the centenary of the Committee on the Application of Standards, reflecting Ireland’s continued engagement in the work of the ILO and its commitment to strengthening the institutions that support fair and balanced labour governance.
This event highlighted Ireland’s historical links to the establishment of the ILO’s supervisory system, and our support for its continued relevance in maintaining confidence in the effective application of international labour standards.
Concluding his visit to the Conference, Minister Dillon met with Ireland’s tripartite delegation which includes senior officials from his own Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, as well as senior representatives of both Ibec and ICTU and congratulated them on their strong input to the business of the Conference.
ENDS
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