Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The third expenditure programme area funded in my Department's Vote is the area of regulation. The regulation programme funds the activities of a number of offices within my Department, such as the Companies Registration Office, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, the Labour Court, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, which is coming to an end, and the Low Pay Commission. The programme also supports the activities of agencies such as the Health and Safety Authority, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, and the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority.

As regards activities so far in 2016 under the regulation programme, the committee will be aware that a new director general, Oonagh Buckley, has recently been appointed to the WRC. Kevin Foley has been appointed as the chair of the Labour Court. I know members of the committee will join me in wishing them both well in their new challenging roles.

The committee may also be aware that the Low Pay Commission recently presented its report to me in respect of the national minimum wage. The report, which recommended increasing the national minimum wage for an experienced adult worker to €9.25 per hour, has been brought to Government and will be considered as part of budget 2017.

The committee will know that reform of the workplace relations body has been the most significant reorganisation of the State's industrial relations and employment rights machinery in almost 70 years. The workplace relations reform programme is nearing the completion of the process to implement newly designed world-class workplace relations services, which are simple to use, independent, effective, impartial and cost-effective. One of the main elements of this reform was the establishment of the WRC in October 2015. The commission's new strategic plan for 2016 to 2018 sets out how the commission will provide effective dispute resolution services, implement the newly established adjudication services and put in place revised inspection and enforcement arrangements. The WRC also has new targets to be achieved within the life of the plan to reduce waiting times for cases before it to three months from date of receipt and to ensure its decisions are issued within 28 days. I will be monitoring the new body's progress in meeting these targets.

The official launch of the new online application processing system for employment permits will take place in the coming weeks. This was one of my Department's commitments in the action plan for jobs.

The committee will also be aware of the establishment of the CCPC on 31 October 2015. The commission has a strategy statement up to 2018 and prioritisation principles. It has developed its work plans which set out its work targets for 2016. A new responsibility for the CCPC arose from the enactment of the grocery goods regulations. The CCPC is working closely with those retailers affected in order to promote a culture of compliance.

I will leave my introductory comments on programme C at that. I am happy to take questions members may wish to pose.