Dan Boyle
Ceist:279 Mr. Boyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the controls which exist in relation to minimum pay levels to crews working Irish ferry routes. [21337/03]
Written Answers. - National Minimum Wage.
Irish legislation sets minimum standards for pay and conditions of employment for workers employed in Ireland. The national minimum wage was introduced in Ireland on 1 April 2000. Currently the national minimum wage for experi enced adult workers is €6.35 per hour and this will increase from 1 February 2004 to €7 per hour.
Pay and conditions above the minimum standards provided for in legislation can be pursued through negotiations between employers and employees, or their representatives. In the event that employers and employees cannot reach agreement, the expert services of the State's dispute settling machinery, as established under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946-2001, are available to assist the parties.
Employers and workers in any sector or enterprise can agree enhanced rates of pay and conditions of employment and can have that agreement registered with the Labour Court. When registered with the court, these agreements are legally binding, not only on the parties to the agreement, but also to others who are in the class, type or group to which the agreements are expressed to apply.