An international conference on industrial relations opens in Dublin on Monday and will feature papers from academics, trade unionists and business people. The European Regional Industrial Relations Congress, according to the organisers, will "serve as a showcase for Ireland and the Irish model of industrial relations via-a-vis the rest of Europe".

Many of the conference speakers will discuss how the Republic's "neo-corporatist" model of industrial relations, involving the Government, employers and trade unions as social partners has helped to underpin the so-called Celtic Tiger economy.

The conference will be opened by Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, and the bulk of sessions will take place at Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge, Co Dublin.