Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
215. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the implementation of a living wage; and his views on whether students at third-level will be able to avail of the living wage if they are also working. [20774/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to “progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government.”. Earlier this year, I formally requested the Low Pay Commission to prepare a report on this issue, and terms of reference for the report have now been noted by Cabinet.
My Department, on behalf of the Low Pay Commission, is managing the tender process for researching and producing this report using this comprehensive set of terms of reference which will consider the implications of introducing a living wage in an Irish context for all categories of workers.
The report will also examine the design of a living wage in an Irish context and will consider the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could progress towards a living wage.
It will do this by looking at international evidence on living wages, examining different calculation methods and examining the policy implications of moving to a living wage in Ireland.
The paper will conclude by outlining options for how Ireland can progress towards achieving a living wage. It is expected that the report will be completed in the second half of 2021. Following its completion, the Commission will submit the report to me for consideration.
