Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
386. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Low Pay Commission will be established; the terms of reference that will apply; when its first report will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33501/14]
View answerThere is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014/2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. The Minister for Business and Employment is currently developing proposals to implement that commitment.
Issues being developed to this end include,
- the detailed role and mandate of the LPC
- its size and composition
- resourcing requirements and
- legislative changes to National Minimum Wage Act 2000.
In addition to establishing the LPC on a statutory basis and progressing the legislative process, consideration is being given to establishing the LPC on an interim administrative basis to ensure that the Commission is in a position to carry out its functions as early as possible.
