Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and wish her well in her role. I spent five years in a similar position on a different committee. It is a great honour to be a chairperson of an Oireachtas committee. I am sure that her five year tenure will be very fruitful. I want to wish all the other members of the committee well. This is a very powerful committee and it is very important to be a member of this committee in the present economic climate. I wish to let members know that I intend to work closely with all of them in carrying out my remit as Minister of State.

I am a bit nervous, looking across at three Limerick members, when considering all the jobs visits and field visits that were promised by the Minister and the visits in respect of Science Foundation Ireland. I hope there is something in it for us in County Clare as well. I wish the committee well.

Chairperson, I will deal specifically with my remit and will make some brief introductory comments on my role.

Subhead 3, C3 provided just over €19 million for the workplace relations programme. With the commencement of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 on 1 October 2015 two statutory independent bodies replaced the five previously in existence. From that date there is now a single body called the Workplace Relations Commission and an expanded Labour Court. This was the most radical reform of the State's workplace relations in more than 70 years. I think this is a very important development, particularly for future industrial relations. These new structures aim to deliver an independent, world class workplace relations service, which is easy to use, effective, provides for workable means of redress and enforcement within a reasonable period. It reduces the cost to business, which I think is important as well.

The allocation to the Workplace Relations Commission provides for extensive information services to workers and employers, for industrial relations advisory support as well as for conciliation and mediation of disputes. In addition it provides for inspection and enforcement of employment rights through the labour inspection services, formerly NERA. So far more than 5,000 inspections were carried out and 13,000 complaints were addressed in 2015.

Subhead C5 provides €17.5 million for expenditure on the Health and Safety Authority. That is a very important part of my remit that we should examine. We are now experiencing very strong economic growth, businesses are rapidly expanding and new jobs are being created on a daily basis, as outlined by the Minister and Minister of State. It is vital that we continue to prioritise the safety and health of all workers in a way that promotes business growth, aids competitiveness and protects workers. A particular focus remains on high risk areas such as agriculture and construction.

More than 10,800 inspections and investigations were carried out in 2015 and new ways of engaging such as using knowledge sharing groups of farmers and farm walks have been developed. Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy and need simple tools and guidance to help them to manage workplace safety and health. The authority has been to the forefront in meeting this challenge with the continuing roll out of the BeSMART online risk assessment tool, reaching more than 30,000 businesses.

Subhead C13 provides close to €500,000 for the Low Pay Commission. Last year the newly established Low Pay Commission recommended an increase in the national minimum wage of 50 cent per hour. A rise of 5.8% to €9.15 cent per hour, which was accepted by the Government and took effect from 1 January this year. As Minister of State, I look forward to receiving the report of the Low Pay Commission with its recommendations on the rate for the national minimum wage for 2017 on 19 July next.

Subhead C15 provides for Ireland's annual subscription to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, of €1.5 million. The Department is currently deepening its engagement with the tripartite UN agency responsible for international labour standards, the International Labour Organisation and next year - I was at a meeting in Geneva about this last week - for the first time ever, Ireland will assume the titular seat on the ILO executive body of the governing body.