Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Sectoral Employment Order (Electrical Contracting Sector) 2021: Discussion

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Before proceeding I would like to introduce my departmental colleagues. I am accompanied by Ms Tara Coogan and Ms Áine Maher. They are available to answer questions as I must leave early.

As time is limited, I will not have a deep conversation with the Senator on this issue. He has raised this issue before and I can assure him that we take it very seriously both in my own Department and the Department of Social Protection, which is under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, where there is also a lot of focus and concentration on this matter. We take the issue very seriously. All cases are investigated when they are brought to our attention through a number of agencies that we operate with as well. The whole idea of having the conversation that we are having today on the SEO process is about good quality terms and conditions but one needs to be properly employed to be able to administer them as well. We take the issue seriously and there is strong legislation. At the moment across Europe, we are having a lot of meetings and the issue is a focus of discussion at the meeting of the European Council next week. I have no problem discussing the matter further offline with Senator Gavan but I do not have time to go into it in detail today because I literally must leave in eight minutes' time and I am conscious that members might have other questions on today's order. I hope that is okay, Chair.