The union has a combined income of more than €20m a year and estimated assets of more than €80m, of which more than €50m will be held in a fund for use in disputes with employers and legal cases.

The commission recommended that unions affiliated to the ICTU that were working in common areas should collaborate more closely and explore possible mergers, so they could serve their members better and have more impact.

"[7] In late 2017, the large airline company, Ryanair, which was founded in Ireland announced that for the first time it would recognise Trade unions.

[9] Ryanair executives and Forsa met for the first time in late 2017, and again in January 2018, aiming to thrash out a "historical negotiating framework" that will later lead to talks on pilot pay and working conditions.

[14] Fórsa says it wants to quickly conclude a formal recognition agreement before opening talks with the airline on pay and working conditions.

In response, Ryanair sought to disrupt the union by threatening to fire 300 pilots, a move that Sinn Féin described as "bully-boy tactics" and "shameful".

Fórsa described the actions by Ryanair as an "unnecessary decision" adding that it "demonstrates management's unwillingness and/or inability to implement the airline's declared intention to agree working conditions with its staff by negotiating with their chosen trade union representatives...

[17] Fórsa has approved a campaign of industrial action "to win pay restoration in agencies that are funded by the public health service, but which operate independently of the HSE".

[18] The Government then, on 30 January, agreed to a proposal to establish a process to deal with pay restoration for Section 39 workers with Fórsa.

Fórsa advised that measures in the amended Road Traffic Bill could double demand in the short term, potentially increasing driving-test waiting times up to 55 weeks.