David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. This is his first visit here. I hope it is the first of many. I recognise the procedure in the Labour Court that is under discussion today and all the bodies who made presentations to that court. It is a very interesting and effective way of reaching agreement with respect to minimum rates of basic pay. In his submission, the Minister of State made the point that these are minimum hourly rates of basic pay. Everywhere we go, people across the board tell us that we are at full employment. Most sectors have problems getting workers. I hope this will assist in that regard. These are the minimum rates of pay. Has the Department done any research into whether employers are offering more in order to attract workers? I have been told that is happening in some cases where there is competition between employers. It is good that we have a floor that is agreed by all sides but there is competition out there.

Will the Minister of State confirm that any operations based outside the State are also covered by this? How do we compare with Northern Ireland? Do the workers of companies that are based there but who are themselves here have to be paid in the same way? Deputy O'Reilly mentioned migrants and people coming in from abroad. The Minister of State might also comment on that.

One area that has recently been brought to my attention and that I raised by way of parliamentary question a little while ago is that of mechanics. There is a chronic shortage of mechanics at the moment, especially in the haulage industry. It is so severe that some firms are talking about having to reduce operations or close down completely. It seems mechanics are not eligible to be brought in from abroad under the work permits list. They are actually ineligible. I really contend that they should be on the critical list. That should be changed. That is a matter of serious urgency. I have had conversations with the Minister of State about this offline. Will he take it back to the Department and see if something can be done as a matter of urgency here because we do not want to see firms closing down and people losing their jobs because trucks cannot be maintained? Of course, we also know how important the haulage industry is to the economy generally. Almost all the goods we have here in the country are exported or imported by way of trucks. It is very important.

Will the Minister of State comment on the impact of inflation? From the briefing notes, I understand that inflation is a concern for workers. It is important and everyone agrees that we have to increase wages to match it or to at least address it in some way or other. I know it is coming down and I hope it will come down faster but the cost of living is an issue.

I will ask another question and then let the Minister of State in, although I might come back with more questions afterwards. The situation regarding apprentices, hiring apprentices and encouraging young people to take up apprenticeships, especially in the construction sector, is a matter of concern. Many people seem to think they have to go on to third level and do a degree. I know the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is doing a lot of work in this respect but, with respect to the Minister of State's own role in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, will he comment on apprenticeships and how what we are doing today will encourage more young people to take up roles as plumbers, carpenters, electricians, plasterers or other positions in that space? I will come back in again after the Minister of State has responded.