Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 9 November 2017

Select Committee on Social Protection

Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Further Revised)

9:30 am

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It may be surprising, but it is testament to the 13 people concerned that every person involved with employment rights policy and legislation, the Low Pay Commission and the legislation relating to the national minimum wage was transferred. It was not the case that 100 staff were involved and that we had left 87 behind. The group was entirely responsible for this body of work and the 13 have moved to the new Department where they will continue to provide the excellent service they have always provided.

I do not want to discount the work being done, but there is the matter of how it has an impact on all other sections in the Department. It is about working collaboratively with schemes to ensure conditions and activities will be reflected in all elements. That is how we hope to improve as a 7,000-strong Department, as opposed to just relying on the wisdom of the 13 people concerned who were completely responsible in their previous Department. All of the other roles I have mentioned at EU or international level, including the EPSCO, the EMCO and Eurofound, were always the responsibility of staff in my Department. It is about ensuring we marry what we are learning and committing to at European level with the European social pillar that will be signed next week in Gothenburg and reflect the schemes we have in place, with the supports and services we provide for Irish people. This is in order that we will enshrine EU ambitions with Irish ambitions and European labour law rights with Irish labour law rights. We must ensure we will reflect what is happening in international norms. I appreciate what the Chairman is saying.

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