Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

There is an issue with the JLCs in the catering, hotel and tourism sectors. When Deputy Billy Kelleher was in the Department he finalised the amalgamation of two of the JLCs and was dealing with the issue of Sunday working hours. The new Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, is pursuing the issue and will bring it to finality. I will introduce new legislation very soon dealing with the issue of EROs and I look forward to the response of Opposition Members to it.

With regard to the minimum wage, it is important that we have a framework on wage policy. We must not deal with it in isolation. On that basis the minimum wage issue is being evaluated. The work and research on the issue is ongoing and the minimum wage will be taken into consideration in the context of overall wage structures and wage policy. This work is being supplemented by Forfás.

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