This paper demonstrates that the centralised collective agreements negotiated in Ireland over the past ten years are, in fact, corporatist arrangements. This is done by reference to the agreements themselves and the literature available on corporatism as a theoretical model. By studying the history and development of centralised bargaining in Ireland, it was established in the course of this dissertation that these agreements represent the latest step in an evolutionary process which has taken place in centralised bargaining since the end of the Second World War. This evolution has been gradual, with each new agreement reached at the national level bringing something more to the process. What began as a basic framework agreement in 1948 has slowly led to the adoption of corporatism in Ireland as it became the next logical step in national-level bargaining. The issues currently facing the social partners in the operation of the current agreement and in the negotiations for any future such arrangements are explored and analysed. This has led the author to conclude that the corporatist agreements should be continued, but there needs to be more focus and meaningful action in the areas of long-term unemployment, marginalisation, and the development of a partnership approach between unions and employers at the level of the individual firm.