Ms Maeve McElwee:

The question put to us by the committee is whether legislative change is required to transpose the minimum wage directive. Our view is it is not. We can successfully and adequately transpose the directive without any significant need for a change to legislation. It is fair to say that IBEC has been proactive in engaging in advance of the directive coming through. We stepped up when the Tánaiste asked us to get involved in the high-level working group to look at how we would be able to transpose the directive and address the issues that will be required in the framework and the action plan. We have been working consistently. I have personally spent a lot of time trying to find ways in which we can gradually and consistently increase that trade union coverage. I do not think there is any inconsistency in the position. The question asked was whether we need any legislative change to transpose the directive by November of this year, or if there is any impediment standing in the way of that. We do not see any impediment. We believe that should be a straightforward path to transposition. We will continue to engage proactively around the framework that will be required.