Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Wage Agreements.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

94 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has conducted a survey or commissioned any research into the application of national wage agreements among non-unionised workers; and, if not, if she will consider commissioning such research to ensure non-unionised workers are benefiting proportionately from the agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2737/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

My Department has not conducted a survey or commissioned research into the application of national wage agreements among non-unionised workers. Agreement on most elements of the employment relationship is left to the parties involved in line with our tradition of voluntarism. The exceptions to this rule relate mainly to the maintenance of a floor of rights as covered by our range of legislation. These rights now include a minimum wage and minimum holiday entitlements.

There has been provision in past national agreements to negotiate increases in excess of the basic pay terms and for increases not to be applied where firms are experiencing financial difficulty. The State has traditionally confined its role to providing dispute resolution machinery to assist employers and employees in resolving any differences which might arise in local negotiations at enterprise level. It is not envisaged that this approach would change.