A guide to encourage private businesses to consider setting up employee-share schemes has been published by solicitors A & L Goodbody. The Guide to Employee Share Schemes in Ireland explains the schemes available, and the legal and taxation issues to be considered when setting up such schemes.

"A well-designed scheme will bring significant benefits to the company and its employees," says Ms Fiona Thornton from the firm's share schemes unit. "The share scheme structure offers employers a means of controlling wage inflation while at the same time satisfying the expectations of employees."

Referring to the negotiations over a successor to Partnershp 2000, Ms Thornton said: "Employee share schemes will play an important role in this partnership approach in the future."