Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2015
59. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his Department consulted with external economists prior to its submission to the Low Pay Commission on the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/15]
View answerIn March, the Low Pay Commission issued a request for submissions, seeking the views of individuals and bodies with an interest in the minimum wage, as part of a public consultation process. In response to this request, and given my Department's responsibility for economic policy advice, the Department's Economics Division developed a submission internally which was subsequently forwarded to the Commission and has been published on the Department's website. The Department's submission addressed, among other issues, the need to establish the evidence base on which decisions around the Minimum Wage would be grounded, competitiveness considerations and international comparisons.
The Low Pay Commission's request for submissions from the public was open to individuals and bodies. I understand that over 40 submissions were received by the Commission from a variety of individuals and organisations. It will be a matter for the Low Pay Commission to consider the views expressed in the submissions presented to it as part of its deliberations on the Minimum Wage.
