Ms Maeve McElwee:

All the points raised by the Deputy are all the points of concern we have. Naturally we are talking about the minimum wage because of the adequate minimum wage directive but it is all of the legislation that has been imposed that is imposing that cost on what is the lifeblood of lots of our regions. It is the enterprise economy that is the bellwether canary in the coal mine. We are seeing the impact of high labour costs in low-margin businesses. When they leave our regions, they no longer provide the tourism and the substance of the towns and villages that thrive with bigger employers. Regarding the Deputy's questions, what the directive is looking for us to do as social partners is to engage and look at a framework that we believe can promote collective bargaining but this must be within the framework of having a thriving economy that actually supports long-term sustainable employment and good, sustainable, well-regulated employment.

The Deputy's second question concerned the Low Pay Commission. Again, it is about addressing the issue for the directive to make sure that social partners are involved in that consultation around the adequate minimum wage aspect of the directive. We are saying that it does not necessarily need legislation. We could legislate for it but as social partners, given the amount of consultation that has already taken place, we would be very satisfied if it was simply formalised that we have access to the Low Pay Commission as a representative body to be able to put our views forward.