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

I welcome the Minister of State. This hearing is just to give the order fair wind. As the Minister of State has said, she has no real role in the substantive issues. I have one question. In her submission, the Minister of State said:

At times when the sector is buoyant, it is expected that most employers will exceed these minimum rates. The real importance of the SEO is to ensure that in times of economic downturns, workers are properly protected ...

Have we any idea how much the pay in the sector is above the minimum rate? Has any research been done on that at all? The Minister of State’s statement was a curious one to make.