Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
70. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the steps that have been taken to introduce a living wage in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6878/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government makes the commitment to "progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government.” I have spoken before about how the pandemic has caused many of us to reconsider and re-evaluate what an essential worker is. We now understand that it is a much broader group of workers than people would have originally described, many of whom are on low pay and in the private sector.
The Government has been clear in its belief that a legacy of the pandemic must be better pay, terms and conditions for everyone, but particularly for those on low pay. We are committed, therefore, to honouring the Government commitment to progressing to a living wage over the lifetime of this Government. In doing so, we need to recognise that many businesses have been badly affected by the pandemic and are struggling to pay existing wages. We need to make sure that we proceed in a way that does not cause jobs to be lost in terms of the numbers of people employed, or would see employees having their hours cut. To do so would be counterproductive.
In 2021, I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the programme for Government commitment and to make recommendations on the best approach.
The Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) to conduct supporting research on the concept of a living wage. Terms of Reference for this research were noted by Cabinet in 2021. In January of this year, the Low Pay Commission received the final Living Wage Study from the team of researchers at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The Low Pay Commission is currently evaluating this study and is in the process of meeting with numerous stakeholders in relation to the introduction of a living wage. I expect to receive the Low Pay Commission’s final report on the move to a living wage and its recommendations by the end of the first quarter of this year.
