Ms Maeve McElwee:

This related to examining what legislation might be needed in advance of the transposition of the directive. Clearly, the directive indicates that social partner engagement on the establishment of a national minimum wage is a requirement and something that should be enabled. However, we are saying that we already have quite considerable engagement. While the Low Pay Commission does not have directly elected employer or trade union representatives, it has independently appointed persons who have both employer and employee backgrounds and perspectives that they can bring to the introduction of a change to the national minimum wage. However, it has been the practice of the Low Pay Commission to hold both public consultations and also, on request or sometimes at the request of the Low Pay Commission, to meet with social partners who request to engage to be able to put forward a position, to share concerns or a specific economic background to any of the decisions that the Low Pay Commission is making. From our perspective, we are saying that it does not really require legislative change. However, we could potentially look at strengthening the already pretty robust engagement that the social partners have with the Low Pay Commission.