Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Dr. de Buitléir and wish him well in the task ahead. I suspect that being on the board of management of the local national school was probably the toughest of all the jobs he has held.

During the hearings on the Low Pay Commission legislation I expressed a concern that there was a lack of direct employer representation on the body, but I have had discussions with Mr. Vincent Jennings who assures me that he ran his own business and has experience of representing the newsagents' association and will bring that experience to the table, which is welcome. One matter that emerged during our hearings on the legislation was that there was a gulf between the employer organisations and unions on the minimum wage. I do not believe any of the employer organisations was willing to countenance an increase in it, while many of the unions were seeking very large increases. What experience will Dr. de Buitléir bring to bear in managing that gulf? How does he envisage dealing with it?

Second, Dr. de Buitléir's background is evidence and statistics based. The initial budget for the commission is a sum of €500,000 a year. Will this be sufficient to build the knowledge or background to support whatever views the commission will arrive at regarding the minimum wage?

The legislation refers to the minimum wage and related matters. Once the commission's job on the minimum wage is done in July, it will become involved in related matters which I assume will include employment agreements and wage setting. What experience does Dr. de Buitléir have of these matters and managing them?

The issue of a living wage will be on the commission's agenda during Dr. de Builtléir's term of office. Has he done any work in that area and what views does he have on it?